Why state-level legal minutiae impacts what words are used to describe the former president's criminal conduct.

District Judge Lewis Kaplan has said it multiple times: Donald Trump raped E. Jean Carroll in 1996. Kaplan wrote it in May 2023, when he presided over one of the trials against Trump. And he reminded jurors of the rape this week, during the latest proceedings in the multi-layered, winding rape and defamation cases brought against Trump by Carroll.

    • TWeaKEnglish
      -16•11 months ago

      I don’t think this comment is appropriate in this comment thread.

      I appreciate the context you gave after this statement, however I disagree with the conclusion you started with.

      The purpose of my comment was to highlight that New York isn’t all that unique in its definition of rape - there are others that are similar. However, in New York, state law is superseded by Federal law. The judge here has treaded on eggshells to make a declaration that fits under federal law, but doesn’t quite line up under state law. Such a declaration wouldn’t even be possible under UK law.

      I, too, hope that Trump actually faces the consequences of his corruption. I hold my breath in anticipation, though, rather than celebrate him merely being told off.