In a significant legal development, President-elect Donald Trump has lost his appeal against the $5 million defamation verdict awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the jury’s decision, which found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in a Manhattan department store during the mid-1990s and subsequently defaming her when he publicly denied the allegations.
The original verdict, delivered in May 2023, concluded that Trump was responsible for both the assault and the defamatory statements made in response to Carroll’s accusations. Carroll, a former advice columnist, alleged that Trump assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in 1996. Trump’s public denials, including statements made on social media, were deemed defamatory by the court.
In addition to this case, Trump faced a second lawsuit from Carroll concerning similar defamatory remarks made in 2019. This separate case resulted in an $83.3 million award to Carroll, further compounding the legal challenges confronting the president-elect.
The appeals court’s decision to uphold the $5 million verdict reinforces the legal accountability for defamatory statements, even when made by high-profile individuals. This outcome underscores the judiciary’s role in addressing allegations of sexual misconduct and defamation, highlighting the potential legal repercussions for public figures who engage in such conduct.
As Trump prepares to assume the presidency, these legal setbacks may influence public perception and could have implications for his administration. The upholding of the verdict serves as a reminder of the ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding the president-elect and the importance of addressing allegations of misconduct with due seriousness.
Source: AP News
