During a meeting with citizens organized by the CNN network, former United States president Donald Trump denied ever seeing the writer E. Jean Caroll, who accused him of sexual abuse in 1996.

Trump was ordered to pay $5 million in damages for abuse and defamation.

In the middle of the meeting, the Republican mocked the complainant and said the lawsuit had been bought. “I swear on my children I have no idea who this woman is. It’s a false story, made up,” he said.

Jury convicts Donald Trump of sexual assault and libel, but not rape

Trump also took the opportunity to mock Caroll by calling her “crazy”, to the applause and laughter of the audience convened by one of the major US television networks.

During the show, Trump was subjected to questions from journalist Kailtan Collins and from voters. Trump called him an “annoying person” for a few moments, which was met with applause from the audience.

The former president once again repeated his false allegations of voter fraud in the presidential election that gave Biden the win, pointing out that it was a “rigged” election.

In turn, he defended his actions during the attack on the Capitol, which are being investigated by a special prosecutor from the Justice Department.

“It was the biggest audience I’ve ever spoken to… they were proud and had love in their hearts,” Trump said.

The ex-president took his defense a step further on Jan. 6, assuring that if elected president, he would grant a presidential pardon to a large portion of those convicted by justice for their actions during the attack .

“I am inclined to pardon many of them,” he added.

Trump also urged Republicans to refuse to raise the US debt limit. “I’m saying the Republicans, congressmen, senators, if they don’t give them massive cuts, they’re going to have to default,” he said.

Raising the debt ceiling – a limit on government borrowing to pay bills already incurred – is almost routine in the United States.

But Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, now only agree to raise the current ceiling of $31.4 trillion if government spending is cut.

Trump estimated that defaulting on the US debt is likely to be avoided as he estimated that the Democrats will “give in”.