A federal judge has ordered Donald Trump to pay $83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her after she accused him of sexual assault, rejecting the former president's request for a new trial or a reduction in the damages.
Judge Upholds Jury Verdict
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan issued the ruling on Monday, upholding the January jury verdict that found Trump liable for defamation. The jury had awarded Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages, totaling $83.3 million.
Trump's legal team had argued that the damages were excessive and that the trial was unfair, citing comments by Judge Kaplan that they claimed showed bias. However, Kaplan denied the motion for a new trial, stating that the jury's award was reasonable and supported by the evidence.
Background of the Case
Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, first accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump has denied the allegation and repeatedly called Carroll's story a hoax. Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit after Trump posted a statement in 2022 calling her accusation a complete con job.
In a separate trial in 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million. The $83.3 million verdict is from a second defamation trial that focused on Trump's statements made in 2022 while he was still in office.
Trump's Legal Battles Continue
Trump, who is the Republican presidential nominee, has vowed to appeal the decision. His legal team is expected to challenge the ruling in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Meanwhile, Trump faces multiple other legal challenges, including criminal cases related to hush-money payments, election interference, and classified documents.
The $83.3 million judgment is separate from the $5 million awarded in the first trial, and Carroll has not yet collected any money as the appeals process is ongoing.
