Trump seeks swift end to defamation suit against journalist

Donald Trump is reportedly pursuing a swift end to a defamation lawsuit brought by a journalist who claims the former president raped her.

What Happened: On Wednesday, Trump lawyer Alina Habba asked a federal judge in Manhattan to replace the United States as a defendant in the lawsuit filed by Jean Carroll.

Habba wrote to U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan after 2 nd U.S. The Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan voted against the lower court judge's ruling that Trump was not protected by federal law that gives immunity to federal employees arising from incidents related to work.

In her letter, Habba said the appeals court ruling meant that the government must be substituted as a defendant, according to a letter by the appeals court.

Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, said nothing has changed in response to Trump's move and asked the case go ahead, according to the report.

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Why It Matters: Should the judge allow the United States to be substituted as a defendant, it would end Carroll's lawsuit because the government can't be sued for defamation, said Reuters.

The request from Trump's lawyer assumes significance, as the circuit court said Trump was a federal employee when he called Carroll a liar, but left it to an appeals court in Washington to decide if he acted as president when he spoke.

Habba asked the judge to put the case on hold, saying it would be highly prejudicial for Trump to prepare for the trial if the Washington court ruled in his favor.

Carroll's lawyer wrote to Judge Kaplan last week saying their client plans to sue Trump for sexual battery and inflicting emotional distress.

According to a prior report, Trump's legal troubles could delay the announcement of his 2024 presidential run. The former U.S. leader said on Truth Social that he was ahead of President Joe Biden in three states.

Truth Social is part of Trump Media Technology Group TMTG, a company set to go public through a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp. DWAC.