'He is not the victim,' Carroll's attorney says of Trump
In a brief rebuttal, Carroll's attorney Shawn Crowley accused Donald Trump's defense of advancing an antiquated argument that amounted to victim-shaming.
Reminding the jury Trump has already been found liable for assaulting and defaming Carroll, Crowley said that in the defense's eyes, "even though he did those things, even though Donald Trump does whatever he wants, any harm Ms. Carroll suffered is her fault for speaking out."
Crowley conceded more people know who Carroll is now, but she said that the idea that positive attention cancels out the harm Trump caused is "nonsense," and she asked the jury to reject the defense argument that Carroll is somehow better off.
"Ms. Carroll did not ask to be called a liar, she did not ask for death threats," Crowley said. "She did not ask to be accused of lying, of making up a story for money."
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Defending Carroll's quirky personality and her conflicting testimony about her feelings, Crowley argued that Carroll should not have to prove she was a broken wreck of a person at all times, in order to collect damages.
"You can be wrecked inside and also feel moments of triumph. You can be sad and also feel proud when people stand beside you," Crowley said.
Crowley said Trump's defense amounted to "she asked for it," and asked the jury, "Are we really still doing that? Have we really not moved past that naïve idea?"
"He wants you to hold Ms. Carroll accountable for his actions," Crowley said of Trump. "He is not the victim."