E Jean Carroll convinced a civil jury that the former president assaulted her, but the US’s culture of impunity is the real winner.
Victory was sweet, but it lasted only 24 hours. On May 9, E Jean Carroll, the former Elle magazine advice columnist, won a significant legal battle against Donald Trump. A jury found him liable for sexually abusing her in a department store changing room in the 1990s and defaming her afterward. She was awarded $5 million in damages. As she left the courtroom, she exchanged a handshake with Trump’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, and said, “He did it – and you know it.” Carroll’s win was a moment of triumph for many who have fought against sexual assault and for women’s voices to be heard.
The following day, Carroll went on a media tour, proudly proclaiming that her victory was proof that the “perfect victim” myth could be dispelled. “The perfect woman always screams. She always goes to the police. She always writes the date in the diary,” she said on MSNBC. Carroll did none of those things, yet the jury still found her story credible, even if they didn’t find Trump guilty of rape. “For every woman in the country, this is for you,” Carroll added, capturing the spirit of the moment, a significant victory for women who had faced similar experiences and been dismissed or ignored.
However, despite the jury’s decision, the following day’s events revealed a different reality: Trump continued to dominate the public stage. Just one day after the verdict, Trump was once again given the opportunity to control the narrative. CNN hosted a town hall featuring the former president, providing him with an unfiltered platform to respond to his legal battles and assert his dominance in American politics.
While the civil jury had ruled against him, the broader culture of impunity for public figures like Trump remained intact. The media, political figures, and the public were quick to move on, and the focus shifted back to Trump’s campaign and public persona. In that moment, Carroll’s victory, while symbolically important, was overshadowed by Trump’s ability to maintain his influence and credibility in the public eye.
Trump’s ability to weather legal challenges and continue commanding attention highlights the persistence of a culture of impunity in the US. Even when public figures are held accountable in one forum, they often find ways to turn the tide in their favor, thanks to their deep media presence and the loyal following that shields them from lasting consequences. The result is a system where justice for individuals like E Jean Carroll is often fleeting, and the powerful continue to dictate the terms of their own legacies.
