E. Jean Carroll’s “joke” from Monday night’s episode of “The Rachel Maddow Show” sparked outrage after she appeared to undermine her defamation suit against former President Trump.
A federal jury last week ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages in her defamation suit against him, stemming from comments he’s made denying he s*xually assaulted her in the 1990s.
During another stop on her media tour, Carroll was asked by the MSNBC host about previous remarks she made suggesting that any money she would receive from Trump would go directly to “help shore up women’s rights.”
“Yes, Rachel! Yes!” Carroll enthusiastically responded. “I had such, such great ideas for all the good I’m gonna do with this money.”
“First thing Rachel, you and I are gonna go shopping!” she exclaimed.
“We’re gonna get complete new wardrobes, new shoes, motorcycle for [Carroll’s attorney Shawn] Crowley, a new fishing rod for Robbie [Carroll’s attorney Roberta Kaplan]- Rachel, what do you want? A penthouse? It’s yours, Rachel! Penthouse and France? You want France? You want to go fishing in France? No?”
As Maddow chuckled at Carroll’s proposal, Crowley awkwardly grinned and said, “That’s a joke.”
The clip went viral as many people said her remarks undermined her credibility.
Fox News contributor Joe Concha said, “If you needed any more proof this whole suit and verdict was a crock, here it is. And of course, Maddow still soaks it all up while not realizing how damaging this is.”
Rachel Maddow asks E. Jean Carroll what she's going to do with "Trump's money" to help "women's rights."
Carroll says she and Maddow will "go shopping, get completely new wardrobes, new shoes…Rachel, what do you want, penthouse?"
Her lawyer nervously says "that's a joke": pic.twitter.com/5LAx5xU5Uy
— Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) January 30, 2024
“This shows exactly what’s wrong with the justice system. You’re claiming the harm to your reputation was so bad you need millions to compensate for it, then you make these types of jokes. This also paints real assault survivors in bad lights and makes them seem money hungry. Absolutely disgusting,” Independent Women’s Forum spokesperson Paula Scanlan wrote.
Radio host Rob O’Donnell explained, “Being in Law Enforcement and public safety for over 3 decades having worked special victims cases, this is not the mindset of a victim. No amount of money can ever make whole a true victim of s*xual assault nonetheless make them giddy.”
Carroll sued Trump for defamation for comments he made in 2019, vigorously denying her rape allegations.
A federal jury in New York City decided last year that Trump was not liable for rape, but was liable for s*xual abuse and defamation. The former president was ordered to pay $5 million in that trial.
Read the full story here.
