President Donald Trump to pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll
In a recent development, a New York jury has ordered former President Donald Trump to pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for allegedly damaging her credibility as an advice columnist. E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of sexual assault, and the jury awarded her $65 million in punitive damages, $11 million for reputational harm, and an additional $7.3 million. This follows a prior $5 million verdict against Trump in a separate defamation case involving E. Jean Carroll.
The jury’s decision, though substantial, was not unexpected, given Judge Lewis Kaplan’s earlier ruling that Trump had indeed defamed Carroll. The jury’s role was to determine the financial penalty rather than liability. Trump is anticipated to appeal the verdict, and his response through the Trump 2024 campaign characterized the trial as a “political weapon,” expressing strong disagreement with the outcome.
- Defamation defeat a double-edged sword for Trump
Trump’s recent success in the New Hampshire primary, when he emerged as the GOP front-runner, is correlated with this legal setback. It does, however, compound a string of legal issues he faces, such as an ongoing civil trial for alleged fraudulent business activities in New York that may cost him at least $250 million. In addition, he might be prohibited from doing business in the state where he first became well-known as a real estate tycoon.
Trump faces a complicated legal environment overall, with 91 allegations spanning across federal and state tribunals. These include federal charges connected to the Capitol riot on January 6 and cases in New York.The outcome of these legal battles holds significant implications for both Trump’s personal and political future.
In response to the decision, E. Jean Carroll said, “This is a huge defeat for every bully who has tried to keep a woman down, and a great victory for every woman who stands up when she’s been knocked down.” The universality of the judicial system was highlighted by her attorney, Robbie Kaplan, who said, “Today’s verdict proves that the law applies to everyone in our country, even the rich, even the famous, even former presidents.”
There were stressful moments during the trial, which was presided over by Judge Lewis Kaplan (who is unrelated to the plaintiff’s attorney). When Trump whispered in court that the case was a “con job” and a “witch hunt,” he was threatened with removal. Prior to rendering the decision, the judge warned, saying, “We will have no outbursts.” Earlier in the trial, he advised jurors to maintain privacy due to the sensitive nature of the case.
E. Jean Carroll’s attorney stressed throughout the closing statements the serious harm that Trump’s public denial of the claimed sexual assault had caused to her client’s image. The attorney presented the case as an attempt to prevent Trump from making such remarks in the future in addition to seeking compensation.
Carroll’s legal team argued that Trump’s denials set off a chain reaction of threats against her, including rape and murder threats, in addition to internet hate. Alina Habba, the attorney for Trump, retorted that Carroll’s statements contained “more holes than Swiss cheese” and that her client was not accountable for the threats Carroll had received.
After the verdict, Trump refrained from direct attacks on Carroll but expressed full disagreement with both verdicts in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. He vowed to appeal, characterizing the legal proceedings as part of a “Biden Directed Witch Hunt” focused on him and the Republican Party.
As the legal saga unfolds, it continues to intertwine with Trump’s political aspirations and the broader implications for his standing in the public eye. The intricate legal web he faces underscores the multifaceted challenges that shape his post-presidential trajectory.