US Court Upholds $5 Million Verdict Against Trump in Sexual Abuse and Defamation Case

A federal appeals court has upheld a $5 million jury verdict against former President Donald Trump in a civil case involving writer E. Jean Carroll. The case stems from allegations that Trump sexually abused Carroll in the mid-1990s and later defamed her in public statements.
Jury’s Findings and Appeal
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday affirmed the May 2023 verdict, which awarded Carroll $2 million for sexual abuse and $3 million for defamation. Carroll, a former advice columnist for Elle magazine, alleged that Trump attacked her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996.
During the trial, Carroll testified that a friendly encounter with Trump turned violent when he assaulted her in the dressing room. Trump, who denied the allegations and skipped the trial, appealed the verdict, arguing procedural errors, including the testimony of two other women who accused him of similar behavior, were unfair.
The three-judge panel dismissed Trump’s appeal, stating, “Mr. Trump has not demonstrated that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings. Further, he has not carried his burden to show that any claimed error or combination of claimed errors affected his substantial rights as required to warrant a new trial.”
Testimonies and Evidence
The trial included testimony from two women who alleged Trump sexually abused them in separate incidents. Jurors were also shown the infamous 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape, where Trump was heard boasting about his ability to grab women without consent. The appeals court ruled that the tape and testimony were relevant to demonstrating a pattern of behavior.
“In each of the three encounters, Mr. Trump engaged in an ordinary conversation with a woman he barely knew, then abruptly lunged at her in a semi-public place and proceeded to kiss and forcefully touch her without her consent,” the court wrote.
Trump’s Response
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, reiterated the former president’s denial of the allegations, calling the case a "Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax" and pledging to continue appeals. Cheung stated, “The American people have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate and demand an end to the political weaponization of our justice system.”
Additional Damages
In a separate trial in January 2024, a jury awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million in damages, finding Trump’s comments about her while serving as president to be defamatory. That verdict is also under appeal.
Legal and Political Implications
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, expressed satisfaction with the appeals court's decision. “Both E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today’s decision. We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties’ arguments,” she said.
The ruling comes as Trump faces mounting legal challenges. Earlier this year, he was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in a hush-money case involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Despite these legal troubles, Trump has announced plans to appeal the rulings and remains a prominent figure in U.S. politics. As the legal battles continue, the cases underscore the contentious and polarizing legacy of the former president.