E. Jean Carroll, a prominent writer and columnist, has brought forth a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump accusing him of rape and defamation. The trial, which began last month in a Manhattan federal court, is currently adjourned until Monday as the judge decides whether or not to require Trump's attendance.
Carroll alleges that Trump raped her in the mid-1990s at Bergdorf Goodman, an upscale department store in New York City. In addition to charges of battery over the alleged assault, she is suing him for defaming her on social media platforms after she went public with her story.
Two former employees of Bergdorf Goodman have stepped forward to support Carroll during this legal battle by providing information about the technicalities of store operations during the time when the alleged incident took place.
During recent testimonies from both parties involved in this case, two experts were called upon for their analysis: Leslie Lebowitz, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist who specializes in trauma therapy; and Ashlee Humphreys Ph.D., an associate professor at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communication.
Lebowitz weighed in on how traumatic events can affect memory recall while also discussing common patterns observed among survivors of sexual assault. "Survivors often struggle with piecing together all aspects of an event due to fear-induced amnesia," Dr. Lebowitz explained. "However fragmented memories do not necessarily mean that they are untrue."
On the other hand, Professor Humphreys provided insight into how social media activity can exacerbate defamation claims against public figures like Mr.Trump - especially if those statements lead others to form negative opinions based solely on such posts.
Humphreys stated: “Social media has transformed our means of communication rapidly over recent years; it allows individuals - including high-profile personalities - to reach a global audience instantly. When such figures make defamatory statements, the impact can be substantial and far-reaching.”
As the trial resumes next week, all eyes will be on the Manhattan federal court to see if Trump will attend and what further evidence or testimony may come forth in this high-profile case.