DC court fast-tracks Trump appeal in E. Jean Carroll defamation suit

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals on Tuesday agreed to fast-track former President Donald Trump's challenge to a defamation suit brought by longtime Elle magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll.

Carroll, who has accused Trump of raping her in a store dressing room in the 1990s, filed a defamation suit against him after he denied her story and publicly questioned her credibility. Trump sat for a court-ordered deposition last week in the suit.

Oral arguments before the court will take place on Jan. 10, according to The Hill. All active judges on the court will listen to the January arguments and the actual trial will occur in February.

During the January proceedings, attorneys for both parties will argue over whether Trump's statements allegedly defaming Carroll were made in his capacity as President of the United States, which if the case, would prevent Carroll from suing Trump in his personal capacity and instead make the Department of Justice the defendant, per the outlet.