<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Ex-President Donald Trump can be held liable for disparaging comments he made about a woman who accused him of rape, the US Department of Justice has said.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The department previously maintained Mr Trump was legally immune as he was president when he made remarks in 2019.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But on Tuesday its lawyers said they no longer had "sufficient basis" to conclude Mr Trump had acted within the scope of his duties.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The decision boosts E Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuit against Mr Trump.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In May, Mr Trump was ordered to pay the former magazine columnist $5m (£3.9m) after being found liable for sexual abuse of her in 1996 at a New York department store.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ms Carroll, 79, is currently seeking $10m from Mr Trump in a defamation lawsuit, which is due to go to trial in January.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The legal action cites his remarks as president about her in 2019 while responding to reporters' questions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The lawsuit has been updated to reflect further comments he made about her during a CNN town hall the day after the court's verdict two months ago. BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>