Ivy Meeropol's engrossing documentary Ask E Jean follows former star columnist E Jean Carroll, now in her 80s, as she battles through an unfinished series of legal disputes against Donald Trump. Carroll has so far been successful in two civil suits, showing remarkable courage and indomitable good humour.
Carroll's Career and the Allegations
Carroll had an uproarious career in New York media in the 80s and 90s, creating a tough broad persona. She had a TV advice show called Ask E Jean, given to her by Roger Ailes. In 2019, inspired by the Weinstein case, Carroll accused Trump of having raped her in 1996 in a changing room of New York's Bergdorf Goodman department store. They had apparently bumped into each other and had a bantering conversation before the rape occurred.
Legal Battles and Outcomes
Carroll took out a civil suit against Trump for sexual assault and a second for defamation after his abusive responses. Trump himself appeared in court for the second case. Both juries found in Carroll's favour: one awarded $5m, the next $83.3m. The courts have now forced Trump to pay the first of these. According to the documentary, this is a reasonably common strategy in such cases to get the woman to fold, but she didn't.
Impact and Reactions
Elle magazine, which had employed Carroll as its advice columnist, cancelled her contract when the first lawsuit happened. The film portrays Elle as its second biggest villain. Trump's response, claiming she 'wasn't his type,' is described as nauseating contempt. The case has taken its toll on Carroll, but she has been tougher than Trump and his lawyers thought. Ask E Jean is in UK cinemas from 24 July.
