Tim Scott insists voters don't care about Trump's defamation loss, plays down 'provocative' Haley attacks

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is playing down the potential political fallout from former president Donald Trump's latest legal setback — after the 2024 candidate was ordered by a New York jury to pay writer E. Jean Carroll $83 million for defaming her when she said he sexually assaulted her decades ago.

Scott, in a new interview with ABC News «This Week» co-anchor Martha Raddatz, said voters will have other concerns and that average Americans are «not talking about lawsuits.»

«The one thing I think the electorate is thinking about most often is how in the world will the next president impact my quality of life? How will America regain its standing in this world? They were better off under Trump,» Scott said.

Trump continues to deny Carroll's account but, after a jury trial last year, he was found liable for sexually abusing her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1990s.

After another trial, jurors last week found he had defamed Carroll in the way he denied assaulting her. He has said he will appeal.

«Does that give you any pause in your support?» Raddatz asked Scott on «This Week.» The Republican senator endorsed Trump earlier this month after ending his own 2024 campaign.

«Myself and all the voters that support Donald Trump supports a return to normalcy as it relates to what affects their kitchen table,» Scott told Raddatz.

He went on to contend that the «perception that the legal system is being weaponized against Donald Trump is actually increasing his poll numbers.»

In addition to various lawsuits, Trump is charged in four separate criminal cases. He denies all wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty.

Despite what Scott said, past polling has found Americans believe some of the accusations against Trump