Trump's Defamation Suit Against Writer Dismissed by Judge

A federal judge has dismissed former President Donald Trump's countersuit against writer E. Jean Carroll, who won a $5 million judgment against him in a sexual abuse lawsuit. The judge ruled that Trump cannot claim defamation when Carroll continues to assert that she was not only sexually abused but raped. Trump's lawyers plan to appeal the decision. Carroll's defamation suit against Trump is scheduled for trial in January, and her lawyer expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating that Carroll looks forward to obtaining additional damages. Carroll accused Trump of raping her in 1996, which he denies. In the previous trial, the jury concluded that Trump sexually abused Carroll but rejected her claim of rape.