The incoming president of the United States will be required to pay $5 million to a woman who accused him of sexual abuse and defamation.
A federal appeals court has upheld the $5 million civil judgment against President Donald Trump, rejecting his appeal in the case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.
The decision reaffirms the jury’s May 2023 verdict, which found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in a department store in the 1990s and defaming her after she went public with her allegations. Trump has consistently denied the claims, calling them a “hoax.”
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a unanimous ruling, stating that Trump failed to demonstrate any errors made by the trial court judge that would warrant a new trial.
“We conclude that Mr. Trump has not demonstrated that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings,” the panel wrote in a detailed 77-page opinion. “Further, he has not carried his burden to show that any claimed error or combination of claimed errors affected his substantial rights.”
The appeals court also upheld the trial court’s decision to allow evidence of Trump’s past alleged misconduct, including the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood tape, in which Trump was heard making remarks about groping women without their consent.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating that she and her client “are pleased with today’s outcome.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, dismissed the ruling, reiterating Trump’s stance that the case was politically motivated. “The American People have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax, which will continue to be appealed,” he said.
Carroll, a former advice columnist, accused Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. While the jury did not find Trump liable for rape, it determined he was liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages.
The defamation claim stemmed from Trump’s public statements calling Carroll a liar and denying her allegations. The court found that these statements damaged Carroll’s reputation.
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