E. Jean Carroll, the writer and columnist who accused President Trump of raping her, was fired from Elle Magazine and is blaming the president for her termination.
Carroll announced she was fired on social media Tuesday, writing, “Because Trump ridiculed my reputation, laughed at my looks, & dragged me through the mud, after 26 years, ELLE fired me. I don’t blame Elle. It was the great honor of my life writing ‘Ask E. Jean.’ I blame @realdonaldtrump.”
In an email from Elle Executive Managing Editor Erin Hobday to Carroll, which was included in a court filing by Carroll’s lawyer, Hobday explained that the outlet would pay her for the remaining time left on her contract, according to the New York Times.
“We and your readers so appreciate your many years of work for the magazine, and the wonderful columns you contributed to our publication,” Hobday wrote, adding, “We will miss you tremendously.”
Because Trump ridiculed my reputation, laughed at my looks, & dragged me through the mud, after 26 years, ELLE fired me. I don’t blame Elle. It was the great honor of my life writing “Ask E. Jean.” I blame @realdonaldtrump.https://t.co/vYIVL6yDIp
— E. Jean Carroll (@ejeancarroll) February 18, 2020
The columnist, 76, came forward in June and accused Trump of raping her nearly 25 years ago. According to a memoir published last year, Carroll and Trump met at Bergdorf Goodman in late 1995 or early 1996. She alleges that they talked and shopped together in the department store before he briefly penetrated her in a dressing room without her consent.
The president has denied the accusations from Carroll, going as far as to say that she made up the claim to sell her book.
“Shame on those who make up false stories of assault to try to get publicity for themselves, or sell a book, or carry out a political agenda,” he said when allegation was made public. “It is a disgrace and people should pay dearly for such false accusations.”
Trump also claimed that he’s “never met this person before in my life” despite the two appearing together in a photograph from a 1987 party.
In addition to the rape allegation, Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against the president last November for claiming that she lied about the incident. She has also requested a DNA sample from Trump in order to determine if his genetic material matches that of the dress she wore at the time of the alleged attack.
