McConnell Says Americans Will Decide About Trump’s Verdict in E. Jean Carroll Lawsuit

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on March 7, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on May 10 declined to comment on the verdict by a New York jury that found former President Donald Trump civilly liable for battery and defamation in a lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.

“That’s about presidential politics and that will all be settled in the primaries next year,” McConnell said when asked by a reporter whether the verdict was legitimate.

McConnell added, “I don’t have any observations about it, the American people are going to have to decide, particularly Republicans and Democrats who they want to run for president.”

On Tuesday, a Manhattan grand jury rejected Carroll’s allegations that she was raped by Trump in a New York City department store sometime between late 1995 and early 1996.

The jury awarded Carroll $2 million in compensatory damages and $20,000 in punitive damages in the battery claim. She was awarded an additional $3 million in damages in the defamation claim.

In response to news of the verdict, Trump called the verdict a “disgrace” in a Truth Social post.

“I have absolutely no idea who this woman is. This verdict is a disgrace–a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time!” Trump wrote.

Trump’s attorney, Joseph Tacopina, has said that the former president is planning to appeal the verdict.

Democrats have celebrated the jury’s decision against Trump.

“A jury just found Donald Trump liable for sexually assaulting E. Jean Carroll. The Republican party will STILL eagerly stand by him to prop him up while they offer their unwavering support,” wrote Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) on Twitter. “Their subservience is a slap in the face to survivors and all women.”

Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy came to Trump’s defense.

“Based on the sheer timing of the allegations—that the alleged offense occurred in the mid-1990s and Ms. Carroll did not sue until 2019–2022, far beyond the normal statute of limitations for the underlying offense, and in the middle of a spate of other legal charges against Trump for other ancient allegations—this seems like just another part of the establishment’s anaphylactic response against its chief political allergen: Donald Trump,” Ramaswamy said in a statement.

Mike Pence, who served as vice president under Trump, has argued that the jury’s verdict on Trump was not of concern to most American voters.

2024

McConnell was also asked about 2024—whether the verdict has made it tougher for Trump to win the presidency.

“There’s no question the presidential race is going on pretty early and the Republican primary voters are going to determine sometime next year who they want to be the nominee and I don’t have any advice to give them,” he said, without elaborating.

Apart from Trump and Ramaswamy, three other major Republican candidates have announced their 2024 bids—former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and conservative radio host Larry Elder.

According to several polls, Trump is leading the GOP field.

Trump led with 54 percent of support, in a Defend Texas Liberty Pac survey conducted by CWS Research from April 29 to May 1. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came in second place with 16 percent of support, followed by Haley with five percent. Fifteen percent said they were undecided.

In a January survey from the same firm, Trump held a one-percentage-point lead (36 percent) over DeSantis (35 percent).

The survey polled 699 likely GOP primary voters.

In another survey by the Morning Consult, Trump held a 41-point lead over DeSantis, who finished second with 19 percent of support. Pence and Ramaswamy were tied at third place, each picking up five percent support.

“DeSantis, who’s yet to launch his candidacy, is supported by 19% of the party’s prospective electorate, his lowest level of support since tracking began,” the poll says.

The survey, conducted between May 5 and May 7, polled 3,574 potential GOP primary voters.