E Jean Carroll has said she is “overwhelmed with joy” for women across America after former president Donald Trump was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming her.
In an interview with NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie on the Today show, the 79-year-old said the court win was not about the millions she was awarded in damages, but securing a victory for all women.
“I am overwhelmed with joy and happiness and delight for the women in this country,” she said.
“This is not about the money. This is about getting my name back,” Carroll added.
The former US president was also found to have defamed Ms Carroll, but the civil trial rejected her claim she was raped during the encounter.
Trump, who is campaigning for the 2024 presidency, must pay the former Elle magazine advice columnist $5m (£4m) in damages.
He has consistently denied Carroll’s claims.
“I have absolutely no idea who this woman is. This verdict is a disgrace – a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time!” he wrote on his social media site, Truth Social, after the verdicts were handed down.
A Trump campaign spokesman said in a statement Tuesday: “This case will be appealed, and we will ultimately win.”
On what she would say to Mr Trump given the opportunity, Ms Carroll said she approached his lawyer, Joe Tacopina, at the conclusion of the case and let him know.
“Tacopina put out his hand and I said, ‘He did it and you know it.’ So I got my chance,” she recalled.
Ms Carroll was alongside her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, who said she was confident that her client will collect the damages from Mr Trump and that his team has no grounds for an appeal.
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“I’ve rarely felt more confident about an appeal as I do about this one,” she said.
Ms Kaplan said there was “no question” the jury was sending a clear message by awarding multimillion-dollar damages and reaching a verdict in a matter of hours.
In addition, Ms Carroll said that Mr Trump’s refusal to testify had helped. “He didn’t even bother to show up,” she added.
Trump’s deposition, in which he was asked about the “Access Hollywood” tape that surfaced before the 2016 presidential election, also helped secure the victory, Kaplan said.
Asked during the deposition about his remarks in the tape, Trump said, “Well, historically, that’s true with stars.”
“True with stars that they can grab women” by their privates? Kaplan asked.
“Well, that’s what – if you look over the last million years, I guess that’s been largely true. Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately or fortunately,” Trump responded.
Ms Kaplan also said in her Today interview that this was an important moment. “Fortunately? Who uses the word fortunately to talk about sexual assault?” she asked.
