Here is David French:
Itâs important to note that this was a civil case, not a criminal trial. The burden of proof in civil cases is lower. The jury was charged with determining whether Carroll proved her claims with a preponderance of the evidence, not beyond a reasonable doubt. In other words, it had to decide whether Carrollâs claims were more likely true than false.
But the case was not a simple matter of âhe said, she said.â Carroll provided her own testimony, of course. But she also presented evidence that she had told others about the assault at the time, as well as evidence from other women that Trump had assaulted them and touched them without their consent.
Trump declined to testify at the trial, but the jury did see his videotaped deposition, during which he denied Carrollâs claims but also doubled down on his assertions in the infamous âAccess Hollywoodâ video. âI just start kissing them,â he said on the tape, âItâs like a magnet. Just kiss. I donât even wait. And when youâre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.â He added: âGrab âem by the [genitals]. You can do anything.â
In the deposition, Carrollâs lawyer, Roberta A. Kaplan, asked Trump specifically about that quote. âWell, historically, thatâs true with stars,â he responded. When she pressed him, he doubled down: âWell, thatâs what â if you look over the last million years, I guess thatâs been largely true,â Mr. Trump said. âNot always, but largely true. Unfortunately or fortunately.â
I spent decades litigating cases, including a number of sexual harassment cases, and as I watched the evidence accumulate, I reached a tipping point â I would have been surprised by any verdict other than the one we received Tuesday. Juries can always surprise you, of course, but what made the verdict truly notable wasnât the outcome. It was the identity of the defendant. In an important moment for the rule of law, a jury heard evidence against a former president and reached exactly the conclusion that it likely would have reached for anyone else.
Now America faces an all-too-familiar challenge. The court system has once again delivered an outcome supported by the law and by substantial evidence. But will that change Republican hearts and minds?
Read the rest here.
Of course when you are God’s anointed one you can do whatever you want:
I’m guessing Bob Jeffress will be silent about these charges against Trump: