New York – Former President Donald Trump has obtained court approval for a $92 million bond in a legal battle against writer E. Jean Carroll. The bond, approved by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, ensures that Carroll will receive compensation for damages if the verdict survives appeals.
Trump’s lawyers recently appealed the ruling to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan. Over the weekend, at a campaign rally, Trump continued his verbal attacks against Carroll, accusing her of falsely accusing him of rape in 1996. In response, Carroll’s lawyer suggested the possibility of a third defamation lawsuit if the attacks persisted.
It is worth noting that Trump had refrained from publicly attacking Carroll following a $83.3 million defamation award in January, which was focused solely on his 2019 statements as president. Additionally, a Manhattan jury awarded Carroll $5 million in May 2022, finding that Trump had defamed her in 2022 and sexually assaulted her in 1996, although they did not find him guilty of rape as defined by New York state law. The judge stated that the jury’s findings were consistent with definitions of rape in some jurisdictions.
During the January trial, Trump attended almost every day, albeit briefly testifying due to restrictions preventing him from challenging the jury’s conclusions. Carroll initially made her allegations public in a 2019 memoir.
In addition to this legal battle, the former president is also facing a $454 million civil fraud penalty, as ruled by a New York state judge. Furthermore, he is involved in four criminal cases.
The approval of the bond represents another development in the ongoing legal disputes surrounding Donald Trump. The case against E. Jean Carroll continues to generate attention, highlighting the complex nature of defamation and abuse allegations and their repercussions in the legal system. It remains to be seen how the appeals process will unfold and what further implications it may have for all parties involved.