Donald Trump applies to have $5m sex assault payout slashed
Donald Trump has applied to have his sex assault payout slashed on grounds the jury verdict that he had sexually abused E Jean Carroll was a "far cry from rape".
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What is the recent development in the E. Jean Carroll defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump?
Last month the magazine columnist, 79, was awarded $5 million (PS4 million) after a civil trial jury concluded she had been abused by Mr Trump in a New York luxury department story in 1996.
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What was the previous outcome of the civil suit between E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump?
Now lawyers acting for the former president want the payment cut to $1 million claiming the original figure is "grossly excessive" for abuse which could have included "groping breasts" through clothing. They are requesting a retrial on the original charges if the judge does not agree to the reduction.
In a written submission, Mr Trump's legal team said a Manhattan federal court jury last month rejected a rape claim Ms Carroll concluding instead that she had been sexually abused in spring 1996 in the store's dressing room.
"Such abuse could have included groping of Plaintiff's breasts through clothing, or similar conduct, which is a far cry from rape," the lawyers wrote.
They said the $2 million granted by the jury on a sexual abuse claim was "grossly excessive" and another $2.7 million issued for compensatory defamation damages was "based upon pure speculation."
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What was Donald Trump's response to the additional damages sought by E. Jean Carroll?
The award should consist of no more than $400,000 for sex abuse, no more than $100,000 for defamation and $368,000 or less for the cost of a campaign to repair Ms Carroll's reputation, the lawyers wrote.
Ms Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, testified Mr Trump had subjected her to an "extremely painful" assault in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York City.
Mr Trump, 76, did not attend the trial, but in a video deposition from last October he denied ever encountering Ms Carroll at the store or knowing her. He said he believed she made the claims against him in part to promote a 2019 memoir in which she first publicly made allegations against him.
Roberta Kaplan, Ms Carroll's attorney, said in an emailed statement the unanimous jury had concluded that Mr Trump sexually assaulted Ms Carroll and then defamed her "by lying about her with hatred, ill-will, or spite."
"This time, Trump will not be able to escape the consequences of his actions," Ms Kaplan said.
Mr Trump may still face a second defamation trial resulting from another lawsuit Ms Carroll filed against him.
That case has been delayed with appeals as the US Justice Department sought to substitute the United States as the defendant in place of Mr Trump.
Government lawyers say Mr Trump can't be held liable for the comments he made as president.