NEW YORK — A federal appeals court has upheld a previous ruling that President-elect Donald Trump is not entitled to a new trial in a lawsuit where he was found liable for the sexual abuse and defamation of writer E. Jean Carroll. The decision comes after a thorough examination by the court, which dismissed Trump’s claims of judicial missteps negatively impacting his case.
In the recent court filing, it was deliberated that U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan acted within his judicial duties, including allowing testimonies from two women who had similar allegations against Trump, comparable to those made by Carroll. The testimonies were crucial in supporting Carroll’s accusations that date back to an incident in the mid-1990s in a New York City department store.
The court documented the severity of the claim, noting Carroll’s description of the encounter where Trump allegedly pinned her against a wall, forcibly kissed her, and sexually assaulted her. Carroll described an initial casual encounter with Trump while shopping, which escalated unexpectedly in a changing room.
Trump, consistently denying the allegations, has expressed his intention to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court. Further complicating matters, Trump faces another legal battle in an upcoming trial set for January 2024, where he was found liable again for defaming Carroll in a separate instance. These legal outcomes have led to substantial jury awards to Carroll, amounting to more than $88 million.
In response to this recent judicial decision, Trump’s legal representation has yet to comment publicly. However, Trump’s spokesman, Steven Cheung, emphasized Trump’s determination to contest the continuous legal challenges, which he refers to as “Witch Hunts,” a sentiment echoed by Trump’s electoral base seeking dismissal of the cases.
Carroll’s legal team, led by attorney Roberta Kaplan, expressed relief and gratitude towards the appeals court for its meticulous review and favorable ruling. It is noted that Roberta Kaplan and Judge Kaplan bear no familial relation.
A notable aspect of the trial included the introduction of an “Access Hollywood” outtake where Trump made controversial remarks about women. The inclusion of this evidence was contested by Trump but ultimately allowed by Judge Kaplan and upheld by the appeals court as relevant to the defamation claim.
The complexity of the legal definitions concerning sexual misconduct was also underscored in this case. The jury differentiated between allegations of rape and sexual abuse based on the strict definitions in New York’s penal code, which Judge Kaplan later critiqued as being outmoded compared to broader modern understandings and legal standards of rape across different jurisdictions.
With these legal proceedings still unfolding, the judgments rendered have significant implications, not only for Trump but also for the broader discussions about legal standards relating to sexual misconduct allegations.
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