A federal jury in New York has ordered former President Donald Trump to pay $83.3 million to writer E Jean Carroll for defamation, concluding a civil trial that highlighted his continued attacks on Carroll after she accused him of sexual assault.
Jury Verdict and Damages
The jury, after deliberating for less than three hours, awarded Carroll $11 million for a reputation repair campaign, $7.3 million for emotional distress, and $65 million in punitive damages. The total far exceeded the $10 million Carroll's lawyers had suggested in closing arguments.
Carroll, 80, alleged that Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump has denied the allegation and repeatedly called her claim a hoax.
Judge's Instructions and Trump's Reactions
Judge Lewis Kaplan instructed the jury that they must accept the earlier finding that Trump sexually abused Carroll, as determined in a separate civil trial in May 2023, which awarded Carroll $5 million. The defamation case centered on statements Trump made in 2022, denying the assault and calling Carroll's story a fabrication.
Trump, who attended the trial sporadically, left the courtroom before the verdict was read. He later posted on his social media platform, calling the verdict a "disgrace" and vowing to appeal. "This is not America," he wrote.
Legal Implications
The verdict adds to Trump's growing legal liabilities, including the earlier $5 million judgment in Carroll's favor and a $355 million civil fraud penalty in New York. Trump faces four criminal indictments, but this case is civil and does not carry jail time.
Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said the verdict sends a message that "no one is above the law." Trump's legal team argued that his statements were protected by the First Amendment and that he was defending himself against false accusations.
