Appeals court upholds $83 million judgment against Trump for defaming E. Jean Carroll
In a recent development, a federal appeals court in New York has upheld the $83.3 million judgment imposed on President Donald Trump for defaming former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll in 2019. The court rejected Trump’s argument that he was entitled to presidential immunity when he made the statements about Carroll and also dismissed his claims that the damages awarded were excessive.
The judgment stems from an incident in 2019 when Trump denied sexually abusing Carroll in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. The court found that Trump acted with reckless disregard for the truth when he called Carroll a liar and stated that she was not his type. As a result, the jury awarded Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages, which the court deemed fair.
Furthermore, the court highlighted the impact of Trump’s statements on Carroll, noting that she was subjected to a multitude of death threats and other threats of physical injury as a result of his remarks. The court emphasized that Trump’s attacks against Carroll were not isolated incidents but continued throughout the nearly five-year litigation process, becoming more extreme and frequent as the trial approached.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, welcomed the court’s decision, stating that it reaffirmed Carroll’s truthfulness and Trump’s falsehoods. Kaplan also emphasized the importance of bringing justice to Carroll, who has endured significant hardship as a result of Trump’s defamatory statements.
This ruling comes on the heels of a separate trial in 2023, where a jury found Trump liable for the attack on Carroll and awarded her $5 million in damages for battery and defamation. The appeals court also rejected Trump’s appeal of that judgment.
Overall, the court’s decision serves as a significant victory for E. Jean Carroll and sends a clear message that defamation and reckless disregard for the truth will not be tolerated, even by high-profile individuals like former President Donald Trump. The legal battle may continue, but Carroll and her legal team remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice and accountability.
