Deliberations begin in Trump defamation trial after ex-president dramatically exits closing argument

NEW YORK (AP) — A jury began deliberations Friday in the defamation trial against former President Donald Trump, deciding whether he owes writer E. Jean Carroll additional millions after a jury last year concluded that he sexually abused her in 1996.

The jury, which is anonymous, began its work after closing arguments punctuated by Trump’s dramatic exit from the courtroom as one of Carroll’s lawyers spoke.

He later returned as his lawyer defended him over statements he made while president in June 2019, and he remained until deliberations began shortly before 2 p.m.

Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, asked jurors to award $24 million in compensatory damages and much more in punitive damages.

Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, said Trump told the truth when he refuted her claims. She said Carroll’s association with Trump had given her the fame she craved and that death threats she received cannot be blamed on Trump’s remarks.

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The jury, anonymous, consisting of seven men and two women, is only deciding damages because it has been told to accept as true the findings of another jury that last May awarded Carroll $5 million after concluding Trump sexually abused Carroll in the changing room of a luxury Manhattan department