Legal Battle Unfolds: Court Rejects Trump's Request to Postpone Defamation Trial

Trump's Defamation Trial: Court Rejects Request for Delay

President Donald Trump's attempt to postpone an upcoming defamation trial faced a setback as the court denied his request on Thursday. Trump's legal team had sought a 90-day stay in the lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, scheduled to commence on January 16. The court's rejection came after it deemed that Trump had waited too long to assert presidential immunity as a defense.

The former president's attorneys argued for more time, citing the need to consider appellate options. They also referenced Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith's filings with the Supreme Court, urging an "immediate review" of Trump's presidential immunity argument. However, the high court rejected Smith's push for an expedited ruling.

Carroll initiated the lawsuit over a "series of false and defamatory statements" made by Trump while he was president, including denying allegations of sexual assault and suggesting that she fabricated the attack to promote a book. In a separate case in May, Trump was ordered to pay $5 million in damages to Carroll after a jury found him liable for sexual abuse.

As the legal battle unfolds, the implications for Trump and the broader landscape of defamation cases are significant. The rejection of the delay request sets the stage for a trial that will delve into the complexities of presidential immunity and the consequences of statements made during a presidency.

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