The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether E. Jean Carroll, the longtime advice columnist who has said President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store 30 years ago, lied during the course of civil litigation against the Republican president, according to a person familiar with the matter.
It was a civil case, not a criminal case. That’s why Trump’s an “adjudicated rapist” instead of “convicted rapist”. And yes, there is a difference. That difference being his requirement to compensate her financially, rather than him be sentenced to “federal get-fucked-in-the-ass prison”.
I think the main difference is actually the burden of proof needed. For civil cases, it’s “the preponderance of evidence,” and criminal is, “beyond a reasonable doubt”.
However, that doesn’t mean he is not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Just that it didn’t need to be proved in court to get the ruling.