Trump Attacks Legal Foes, Sparks Defamation Speculation

Former President Trump unleashed a tirade against various legal adversaries during a speech in Michigan, following a ruling by Judge Arthur Engoron that he owes over $350 million in a civil fraud case, which Trump has dismissed as a “total sham.” Trump’s verbal onslaught extended to Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney leading a case against him and 18 others for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Trump’s attacks mirrored his earlier criticisms on Truth Social, a platform he frequents.

Trump also took aim at E. Jean Carroll, whom he already owes more than $80 million from a defamation lawsuit. He questioned her identity, stating, “I’m saying ‘who the hell is she, who’s the woman’”—potentially setting the stage for another defamation lawsuit from Carroll, who previously vowed to sue Trump if he defamed her again.

In a Jan. 29 interview on MSNBC, Carroll reaffirmed her intent to sue Trump if necessary. Her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, emphasized that they were considering all options in response to future defamatory statements from Trump.

During his speech, Trump framed his legal battles as attacks not just on himself, but on all Americans, denouncing them as “repulsive abuses of power.” He currently faces over $440 million in legal fees, comprising more than $350 million from the civil fraud case and over $80 million from Carroll’s defamation case.

Looking ahead, Trump is scheduled to face trial on criminal charges for the first time, with jury selection set to begin on March 25. He pleaded not guilty to 34 criminal counts for falsification of business records in August.

In a surprising turn, Trump announced the launch of a $399 high-top sneaker line during a speech at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia, a venture he claimed to have been discussing for 12 years.

Saturday’s speech marked Trump’s first public commentary on his legal woes since Engoron’s ruling. It follows a prior ruling in May, where he was ordered to pay Carroll $5 million for sexual abuse and defamation, after a jury found him guilty on those counts.