Can former President Donald Trump use his 2024 campaign funds to pay off the $83.3 million defamation judgment against him in the E. Jean Carroll case? That’s the question that has been raised after Dave Aronberg, the state attorney in Florida’s Palm Beach County, warned Trump against such a move. Aronberg explained that Trump would have to disclose the purpose of the funds and couldn’t divert them to pay Carroll without committing a crime. This comes after a jury in New York ordered Trump to pay Carroll for defamatory statements he made about her in 2019. The case stems from Carroll’s allegations that Trump sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s, which he vehemently denied. As the legal battle continues, the question of how Trump will handle this financial obligation remains unanswered.
1. Defamation Lawsuit
Donald Trump was recently ordered to pay E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in a defamation lawsuit. Carroll had accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s, which he denied. The lawsuit stemmed from defamatory statements Trump made about Carroll in 2019.
2. Warning from Dave Aronberg
Dave Aronberg, the state attorney in Florida’s Palm Beach County, appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe and cautioned Trump against using his 2024 campaign funds to pay Carroll. Aronberg explained that Trump would have to disclose the purpose of the funds and couldn’t divert them to pay off the judgment without committing a crime.
3. Disclosure of Funds
Aronberg emphasized that if Trump wants his supporters to contribute to pay off the debt to Carroll, he would need to disclose it. He cannot claim that the funds are for his re-election or any other cause and then divert them to pay the $83.3 million judgment. Failure to do so could potentially lead to charges of fraud, similar to what happened to Steve Bannon, who diverted money from the ‘We Build the Wall’ campaign.
4. Trump’s Response
Trump expressed disagreement with the verdicts and stated that he will be appealing what he called a “Biden Directed Witch Hunt.” He criticized the legal system, claiming it is being used as a political weapon against him and the Republican Party.
5. Carroll’s Perspective
E. Jean Carroll, in interviews with CBS Mornings and CNN’s This Morning, expressed her belief that the jury’s ruling signifies that enough is enough in terms of Trump’s defamatory statements about her. She also commented on Trump’s behavior during the trial, stating that he had “zero” power in the courtroom and that it felt more like a campaign stop for him. Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, suggested that Trump’s continued defamatory behavior during the trial may have influenced the jury’s decision.
In conclusion, former President Donald Trump has been warned against using his 2024 campaign funds to pay off the $83.3 million defamation judgment in the E. Jean Carroll case. Dave Aronberg, the state attorney in Florida’s Palm Beach County, emphasized that Trump would have to disclose the purpose of the funds and couldn’t divert them to pay Carroll without committing a crime. This warning comes after a jury ruled in favor of Carroll, ordering Trump to pay her for defamatory statements he made about her. Trump has expressed disagreement with the verdicts and plans to appeal, while Carroll believes the jury’s ruling signifies that enough is enough in terms of Trump’s defamatory statements. The legal battle continues, and it remains to be seen how Trump will handle this financial obligation.