DOJ Seeks to Sub in the U.S. for Trump in Carroll Defamation Judgment

The Justice Department plans to urge the Supreme Court to allow it to substitute the United States for Donald Trump as the defendant in E. Jean Carroll’s defamation case, potentially dismissing the roughly $83.3 million verdict (plus the earlier $5 million) against Trump by arguing he acted as a government employee when defaming Carroll; Carroll intends to use any proceeds for charity and a forthcoming documentary, while critics say the move shows the DOJ bending to Trump’s interests after the Second Circuit denied presidential immunity.