Justice Department Withdraws Support for Trump in Carroll Defamation Lawsuit

The Justice Department has reversed its position and stated that former President Donald Trump's derogatory statements about writer E. Jean Carroll were not made as part of his official duties, giving new momentum to Carroll's defamation lawsuit. The department had previously argued that Trump was acting in his official capacity when he insulted Carroll, who accused him of sexual assault. However, new evidence, including a recent civil trial where Trump was found liable for assaulting Carroll, suggests that Trump's statements were motivated by personal grievances rather than official duties. Carroll's lawsuit seeks to hold Trump accountable for his comments made while he was president.