NEW YORK — A federal appeals court on Monday affirmed a jury’s decision that mandates former President Donald Trump to pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of sexual assault. The court’s ruling comes after a civil jury found Trump liable for defamation due to his repeated derogatory social media posts and public statements regarding Carroll.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Trump’s appeal against the jury’s award, deeming the damages imposed as both fair and appropriate. The three-judge panel emphasized the severity of Trump’s actions, stating that the “degree of reprehensibility” exhibited was extraordinarily high, resulting in significant emotional distress for Carroll, including threats to her safety.
Trump’s legal team had contended that the awarded damages, particularly the $65 million in punitive damages, were excessive. They sought a new trial based on the Supreme Court’s broadened scope of presidential immunity. However, the appeals court refuted these claims, asserting that Trump’s conduct and the subsequent harassment Carroll endured justified the substantial financial penalty.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, expressed satisfaction with the court’s comprehensive ruling, which she stated confirmed Carroll’s truthfulness and dismissed Trump’s claims. Kaplan highlighted the threats her client faced throughout the litigation and expressed hope for a conclusion to the appellate proceedings.
Carroll testified during the trial that she received hundreds of death threats following Trump’s public criticisms. Additionally, she detailed how Trump’s statements resulted in her losing her long-standing job at Elle magazine and reduced appearances on television.
The ruling involved the second of two defamation judgments against Trump stemming from his sustained attacks on Carroll’s character after she accused him of sexual assault in her 2019 memoir. Carroll recounted a troubling encounter with Trump at a Manhattan department store in 1996, where she alleges he assaulted her in a dressing room after a brief flirtation turned violent.
While a previous jury had ruled Trump liable for sexual abuse, they concluded he did not meet the legal definition of rape under New York law. Trump has consistently denied Carroll’s allegations, claiming she fabricated the story to promote her book and asserting she was “not my type.”
In the initial trial, the jury awarded Carroll $5 million as compensation for both the alleged assault and Trump’s subsequent statements denying the event occurred. Following this, a second trial was convened to determine damages related specifically to Trump’s comments attacking Carroll’s integrity.
During the latest trial, which occurred amid Trump’s campaign for the 2024 presidency, he attended and portrayed the legal actions against him as politically motivated. His defense team argued that the trial judge limited their ability to present his innocence regarding the assault allegations during jury proceedings.
The appeals court upheld the trial judge’s decisions, concluding that the jury’s award reflected the unique circumstances of the case. Notably, Trump’s public criticism of Carroll intensified, particularly as the trial approached, culminating in statements made during the proceedings where he vowed to continue disparaging her.
This story highlights ongoing issues regarding defamation, harassment, and the impact of public figures’ statements on individuals’ lives.
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