Carroll agrees she did not shy away from publicity
E. Jean Carroll conceded on cross-examination that she anticipated "blowback" would follow the publication of her rape allegation against then-President Trump, and that she did not shy away from publicity that she now says has shattered her reputation.
"You've continued to publicize every lawsuit you had against President Trump?" defense attorney Alina Habba asked.
"Yes," Carroll responded. "Because I wanted people to know that a woman can speak up and win a trial. I wanted people to know. I'm 80. I don't want to be quiet. It's not right to make a woman be quiet. It has gone on for too long."
The defense has been trying to portray Carroll as an attention-loving woman who is overplaying her emotional accounts of how the backlash following her rape accusation affected her.
Carroll also said under questioning that she hosted watch parties in her lawyer's office that were attended by comedian Kathy Griffin and Trump's niece Mary Trump, both of whom are critics of the former president.
"Isn't Kathy Griffin known for holding up a severed head of President Trump?" Habba asked.
"Yes," Carroll said.
Court subsequently adjourned for the day, with Carroll scheduled to return to the witness stand on Thursday for additional cross-examination.