Federal Judge Upholds $83 Million Defamation Verdict Against Trump
A federal judge in New York has upheld a $83 million defamation verdict against former President Donald Trump, affirming that he is liable for the damages awarded to E. Jean Carroll, the writer who accused him of sexual assault.
Carroll claimed that Trump sexually abused her in 1996 and went public with her allegations in 2019. Trump vehemently denied the accusations and attacked Carroll in public, prompting her to file a defamation lawsuit. A jury found Trump liable last year and awarded Carroll $5 million in compensatory damages.
After the verdict, Trump continued to publicly criticize Carroll, leading to a second defamation lawsuit. Carroll argued that Trump’s post-trial attacks were meant to harm her reputation and succeeded in her claim.
Judge Lewis Kaplan, in his decision, rejected Trump’s arguments that the compensatory damages were excessive and dismissed his request for a new trial. He determined that nothing was wrong with the initial trial and that Trump’s attacks on Carroll were malicious and caused her harm.
The lawsuit has been ongoing since 2019 and is considered a significant victory for Carroll and for victims of sexual assault. Trump has not yet publicly commented on the decision.
