Former President Donald Trump could face questions about sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll at a CNN town hall on Wednesday night.
The town hall comes just one day after a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. It underscored the former president’s mounting legal threats as he launches a campaign to take the White House next year.
Trump will take questions from Republican voters in the early voting state at the town hall which will be moderated by CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins. It is scheduled to start at 8 pm ET at St Anselm College in New Hampshire.
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As for whether Collins will be asking Trump about the sexual abuse verdict against him, a CNN spokesperson told ABC News that “No subject is off limits.” Meanwhile, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the town hall “could turn into a disaster for all, including me,” adding that “They made me a deal I couldn’t refuse!!!”
There was no elaboration on what the deal actually was. Trump posted the opinion on Tuesday, before the final verdict in the civil case alleging rape brought by Carroll. The jury in the case found that Trump was not liable for rape in the case, but was liable for sexual abuse as well as defamation.
There has also been a lot of criticism against CNN for hosting Trump for the town hall even after he was found liable for sexual abuse in court.
“It’s clear to me that CNN and many other mainstream media outlets have not learned their lessons from covering Trump in 2016,” Tara Setmayer, a former House Republican communications director, recently told the Guardian. “This, in my opinion, is once again giving him legitimacy at a time when he is more extreme, more out of control and his lies are more dangerous than ever.”
CNN, however, has defended its decision to host the town hall. They have argued that the American people have a right to get answers from the current frontrunner in the Republican presidential primary.
“Our job, despite his unique circumstances, is to do what we do best,” a CNN spokesperson said in a statement. “Ask tough questions, follow up, and hold him accountable to give voters the information they need to sort through their choices. That is our role and our responsibility.”
