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Judge Dismisses Trump Defamation Counterclaim Against E. Jean Carroll

9/2/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump lost his defamation counterclaim against writer E. Jean Carroll in New York.
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan dismissed the claim, finding Carroll’s allegation that Trump raped her substantially true.
The jury’s finding of sexual abuse was interpreted as implying rape in common usage.
Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba said the firm will appeal, calling the decision flawed.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump lost his defamation counterclaim against writer E. Jean Carroll in New York.
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan dismissed the claim, finding Carroll’s allegation that Trump raped her substantially true.
The jury’s finding of sexual abuse was interpreted as implying rape in common usage.
Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba said the firm will appeal, calling the decision flawed.