Trump Ordered to Pay $83.3 Million for Defaming E. Jean Carroll, Jury Decides
Former President Donald Trump has been ordered by a federal jury to pay $83.3 million in damages for defamatory statements he made denying allegations of sexual assault by writer E. Jean Carroll. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before awarding Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages. Carroll's attorneys argued that the punitive damages should be enough to make Trump stop defaming their client. Trump immediately disagreed with the verdict and vowed to appeal.
Jury Awards E. Jean Carroll $83.3 Million in Defamation Case
Former President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay $83.3 million in damages in a defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. The federal jury delivered its verdict after less than three hours of deliberation. The damages include $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages.
Carroll's attorneys had requested $24 million in compensatory damages, arguing that Trump's defamatory statements had severely damaged her reputation and caused her emotional harm. They also urged the jury to impose punitive damages significant enough to compel Trump to stop defaming their client.
After the verdict was announced, Carroll emerged from the courthouse flanked by her legal team, declining to speak to the media gathered outside.
Trump's Defamatory Statements and Carroll's Lawsuits
E. Jean Carroll, a longtime advice columnist, published an article in New York magazine in 2019, accusing Trump of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s. Trump immediately denied the allegations, calling Carroll a "whack job" and claiming he had never met her. Carroll filed two defamation lawsuits, asserting that Trump's statements had harmed her reputation and exposed her to threats.
In May 2023, a jury ruled in Carroll's favor in her first lawsuit, finding Trump liable for defamation and sexual abuse and awarding her $5 million in damages. Before the second trial began, the judge confirmed Carroll's credibility and the defamatory nature of Trump's denials. The second jury's task was solely to determine the damages owed to Carroll.
The $83 million verdict came shortly after Trump's victory in the New Hampshire primary, solidifying his position as the Republican presidential nominee front-runner.
Reaction to the Verdict and Closing Arguments
Immediately following the announcement of the jury's decision, Trump issued a statement on his social media platform, criticizing the verdict and vowing to appeal. He claimed that the legal system was being used as a political weapon and that his First Amendment rights had been violated.
During the closing arguments, Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, urged the jury to consider Trump's repeated defamatory statements and the ongoing impact on her client's reputation. She highlighted Trump's refusal to attend the first trial but presence for the damages proceedings, emphasizing his concern for monetary consequences.
Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, focused on the time gap between Carroll's allegations and Trump's initial denial, arguing that Carroll had not proven a causal link between the statements and the harassment she received. Habba also raised questions about Carroll's credibility, mentioning instances where she appeared buoyant and unreadiness to involve authorities when threatened.
