OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
New York police confiscated a firearm owned by writer E. Jean Carroll after she revealed its existence during her testimony in a defamation lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, according to a report last week.
Carroll disclosed that she had an unlicensed firearm at her residence, prompting law enforcement to take action in February, NBC News reported.
The outlet added that “the chief of police in Warwick, New York, visited Carroll at her home on Feb. 15 ‘to discuss some open issues,’ the [police] report states, including Carroll’s disclosure of the handgun while she was on the witness stand Jan. 17.”
During the second day of the trial, Carroll told the court in lower Manhattan that she kept a “high standard revolver, nine chambers” at home with ammunition. “By my bed,” she said.
“I still do not have a license,” Carroll added.
John Rader, the police officer reporting the incident, noted in his statement filed with the department that he “offered to secure the weapon at the police station’s property for safekeeping.”
Carroll and a member of her security team surrendered the firearm to authorities the day after Rader’s visit. The report specified that the gun would be retained until Carroll obtained a New York handgun license, NBC noted further.
The outlet added:
Under New York state law, a person can be found guilty of criminal possession if they possess a firearm, such as a pistol, that has not been registered. The felony carries a maximum sentence of four years.
It was unclear why police waited almost a month to inquire in person about the unregistered gun Carroll said she had at her house or whether police are still in possession of it.
During cross-examination in the January hearing, Carroll’s ownership of the firearm became a point of contention, as Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, questioned Carroll about her gun possession and whether she was aware of the license requirement. However, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan dismissed the line of inquiry, as reported by NBC.
“Don’t even start,” he warned.
The jury ruled that Trump must pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages for his repeated defamation of her. This amount comprised $11 million for harm to Carroll’s reputation, $7.3 million for emotional distress and other losses, and $65 million in punitive damages.
Last year, Trump was initially found liable for sexual assault and defamation and ordered to pay Carroll $5 million, but a curious Facebook post by his accuser may assist his appeal.
On April 22, 2012, she posted on Facebook, “Two many good TV shows on Sunday Night! My God! What do YOU watch?”
But it wasn’t the misspelling of “too” that made her post interesting; she also wrote: “I’m a MASSIVE Apprentice fan.”
“The Apprentice,” of course, was a popular show that was hosted by Trump.
“This seems like a perfectly normal thing to say given the accusations?!? Unless, of course, the accusations were totally fabricated and made up recently as a political hit job,” Donald Trump Jr. wrote in retweeting the post.
This seems like a perfectly normal thing to say given the accusations?!?
Unless, of course, the accusations were totally fabricated and made up recently as a political hit job. https://t.co/zolszTz7QI
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 13, 2023
The comment from years ago drew many responses questioning the integrity of her claims against Trump.
“Massive Apprentice Fan???? How are you a fan of the show who’s star is DJT? You know, the one you said (raped) you all those years ago??? I hope our amazing POTUS sues your ass for everything you have. You are a disgrace to women who are true victims of sexual assault. Who put you up to this???” one person wrote four years ago.
“Massive Apprentice Fan!!!! Let’s see if you will delete your post!!!” another said.
“Why are you a fan of a guy that supposedly raped you?” one incredulous person asked.
“A “MASSIVE” Apprentice fan???????? You slapped the faces of true rape victims, you fraud!!!” one woman said.
