Trump Sends Valentine Cash Plea to Woman Jury Found He Sexually Abused
A Valentine’s Day-themed fundraising email styled as a “love letter” from “Secret Admirer Donald J. Trump” has drawn backlash after it was received by E. Jean Carroll, the writer whom a federal jury found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming.
Carroll, an 82-year-old former Elle magazine columnist, shared a screenshot of the unsolicited message on X over the weekend, expressing disbelief that she had received it. She stated she never signed up for the mailing list and described the situation as surreal.
The email, sent as part of a broader automated Valentine’s Day fundraising campaign, used romantic language while urging recipients to donate money to Trump and support what it called “our great movement.” The tone struck some recipients as unusually personal for a political fundraising appeal.
It remains unclear how Carroll’s email address was added to the campaign’s distribution list. Political fundraising operations often use mass marketing databases that send automated emails to large lists of contacts.
Carroll accused Trump in 2019 of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s inside a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. Trump denied the allegation and claimed he had never met her.
In May 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in connection with Carroll’s claims. A subsequent defamation case increased the total damages awarded to Carroll to $88.3 million.
Trump has continued to deny wrongdoing and is appealing the verdicts. The legal battle remains ongoing as higher courts consider aspects of the case.
Carroll was not the only person to publicly comment on receiving the Valentine’s-themed appeal. Several journalists and commentators said they received similar emails, with some describing the messaging as awkward or inappropriate given the former president’s legal history with Carroll.
The episode highlights how aggressive political fundraising tactics can sometimes collide with ongoing legal and personal disputes, creating controversy far beyond the intended donor base.
