Brunswick Beacon, 05.18.23
Jurors needed just three hours to decide unanimously that Donald Trump sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll, then defamed her by falsely and maliciously calling her a liar. They awarded her $5 million in compensation.
The jurors heard live testimony from 11 witnesses, including Carroll, two friends she told contemporaneously, and two women who said Trump also molested them. Trump was too busy golfing at his course in Scotland to appear. After testimony concluded, Trump said, “I’m going back, and I’m going to confront this.”
By then, Trump’s attorney had rested. Still, the judge gave Trump another chance to testify. His bluff called; Trump backed down. But the jury did hear Trump through the Access Hollywood tape and his videotaped deposition, where Trump’s contempt for women was on full display.
On the Access Hollywood tape, Trump admitted to sexually assaulting women: “I'm automatically attracted to beautiful—I just start kissing them…I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it…Grab 'em by the [privates]. You can do anything.”
Asked at his deposition if that was true, Trump said, “Well, historically, that’s true with stars…Unfortunately, or fortunately.” Trump meant it was unfortunate for the woman, but fortunate for the star, and agreed that he is one.
Trump’s defense was not that he doesn’t assault women, just that Carroll wasn’t his “type.” But, when shown a photo of himself with Carroll, Trump said, “That’s Marla. Yeah. That’s my wife.” Case closed.
Shamefully, MAGA doesn’t care that Trump sexually assaults women. “It’s not a disqualifier,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “I think he’ll be the nominee. I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t,” said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). “It makes me want to vote for him twice,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), neatly combining MAGA’s twin features: election fraud and misogyny.
At CNN’s Town Hall Trump dismissed his sexual assault as “hanky-panky.” He called Carroll “a whack job,” adding “I feel sorry for” her ex-husband. His MAGA fans roared with laughter. Trump treats women like dirt and MAGA loves it. Do you?
Eric Terashima
Leland