E. Jean Carroll drops the hammer on Donald Trump

E. Jean Carroll has already won $5 million in her first civil trial against Donald Trump. Now she’s gearing up for a second civil trial against Trump. It’s important to keep in mind that this is not an appeal or a do-over. If Carroll wins damages in this trial, it’ll be in addition to the $5 million she’s already won.

While this is a separate trial from the first one, Carroll has the advantage of using the events of the first trial to her advantage in the second trial. It’s not just that she won and can use the findings of the first trial this time around. It’s that she can use Trump’s misbehavior in the first trial against him.

Carroll made a court filing today which seeks to place limits on Trump’s behavior during this trial, and even calls into question whether he should be allowed to testify this time around. If the judge agrees with Carroll and places limits on Trump’s behavior, Trump can still break those rules. But it could result in Trump being held in contempt of court, and it could be used as a basis for even larger damages against Trump.

In other words, it’s the latest reminder that Donald Trump can’t “antic” his way out of his legal troubles. All his unhinged antics during his first E. Jean Carroll trial resulted in a hefty verdict against him. And now his antics in the first trial are already being used against him in the second trial.