A federal appeals court has upheld an $83.3 million jury award against President Donald Trump in a defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. The ruling rejected Trump’s argument that the damages were unreasonably excessive and that presidential immunity shields him from liability for statements he made about Carroll on social media and in public.
What the judges ruled
In its decision, the U.S Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit panel found that Trump repeatedly made public statements about Carroll that put her at risk of harassment and threats. The court noted that he characterized her as motivated by political and financial interests, questioned her credibility and suggested she would face serious consequences for speaking publicly about the assault.
“Trump’s statements had a domino effect,” the ruling said. “Carroll was subjected to ongoing and prolific harassment as a result of these statements, including a multitude of death threats and other threats of physical injury.”
Of the $83.3 million award, $65 million was punitive damages. The court noted that Trump continued making public statements about Carroll during the trial and that the jury considered those statements when determining the size of the award.
Background in the case
In a book memoir and during a 2023 trial, Carroll recounted a 1996 encounter with Trump at Bergdorf Goodman’s 5th Avenue store in New York City. She said what began as a casual conversation while shopping escalated into a violent confrontation in a dressing room. Carroll testified that Trump pushed her against a wall and forced himself on her.
Trump denied that the incident occurred and claimed Carroll fabricated the story to promote her book.
A jury in that trial found Trump liable for sexual abuse but determined that the evidence did not meet the legal definition of rape under New York law.
The jury awarded Carroll $5 million, covering both the alleged assault and Trump’s public denials after he left office.
Following that verdict, a second trial focused solely on damages for statements Trump made while president in 2019, when he publicly questioned Carroll’s credibility. Monday’s ruling affirmed the larger of the two defamation awards, totaling $83.3 million.
Trump’s lawyers have suggested he will ask the Supreme Court to review the jury’s $5 million verdict and liability finding.
Statements from both sides
Despite the possibility of Trump taking the case to the Supreme Court, Carroll’s attorney Roberta Kaplan said in a media statement following Monday’s ruling, “We look forward to an end to the appellate process so that justice will finally be done.”
In a statement to The Associated Press, lawyers for Trump called for “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 travesty of the Carroll Hoaxes.”
What’s next?
Trump’s legal team has indicated that it may ask the Supreme Court to consider the case. Carroll has not yet received any of the awarded damages.
The federal court wrote, “We hold that the district court did not err in any of the challenged rulings and that the jury’s duly rendered damages awards were reasonable in light of the extraordinary and egregious facts of this case.”
The ruling was issued by Judges Denny Chin, appointed by former President Barack Obama, and Sarah A.L. Merriam and Maria Araújo Kahn, both appointed by former President Joe Biden.
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