Trump could take stand Thursday as E. Jean Carroll trial set to resume

NEW YORK — Former President Trump is expected to return to a New York federal courthouse Thursday, when he could testify as he looks to defend himself against advice columnist E. Jean Carroll’s request for at least $10 million in defamation damages.

Trump has signaled he plans to take the stand at the trial, and his lawyer had indicated he was ready to do so Monday.

But the trial was delayed for multiple days this week following a COVID-related scare. Barring a new twist, the proceedings are scheduled to resume Thursday.

Carroll is expected to quickly wrap up her case, before Trump’s team begins their portion later in the day.

The former president is only one of a few potential witnesses in his defense, and he wrote on Truth Social overnight that he planned to return to the trial after his wins in Iowa and New Hampshire.

“But now I’m heading back to New York City for a trial based on False Accusations, from perhaps decades ago — The woman has no idea when!” the former president wrote.

Carroll is seeking at least $10 million in defamation damages over Trump’s denials when she came forward in 2019 during his presidency with allegations he sexually assaulted her decades earlier.

Last year, a separate jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, an appointee of former President Clinton who oversees the litigation, has ruled that the verdict makes Trump automatically liable in Carroll’s defamation case — meaning the current jury is only deciding damages.

If Trump does take the stand, Kaplan has barred the former president from denying Carroll’s story and disputing other issues the judge already decided.

Overnight, Trump railed against Carroll in more than three dozen Truth Social posts that included comments he would not be permitted to tell jurors.

He also took aim at the judge, calling him a “100% Trump Hater.”