Justice Department Removes Trump's Immunity in E. Jean Carroll Lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Justice has reversed its previous position and stated that former President Donald Trump is not immune from writer E. Jean Carroll's $10 million defamation lawsuit against him. The department no longer believes that Trump acted within the scope of his office when he denied raping Carroll in the mid-1990s. This change means that the government will not substitute itself as the defendant, effectively ending Carroll's case. Trump's spokesperson criticized the move as a "partisan sham," while Carroll's lawyer welcomed the decision as it removes a possible impediment to the scheduled trial in January 2024. Carroll had sued Trump after he denied her rape claim, leading to a $5 million jury verdict against him for defamation and sexual abuse. Trump is appealing that verdict.