A federal appeals court has upheld writer E. Jean Carroll’s $5 million civil judgment against President-elect Donald Trump. The jury had awarded Carroll the sum in 2023 after finding Trump liable for sexually abusing her in the 1990s and defaming her after she made her allegations public. Trump denied the allegations and appealed the verdict, arguing that it was “grossly excessive” and should be overturned due to what he claimed were unfair rulings from the judge overseeing the trial. However, a panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed with Trump’s claims and affirmed the judgment.
In response to the ruling, a spokesperson for Trump, Steven Cheung, stated, “The American People have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax, which will continue to be appealed.” On the other side, Carroll’s attorney Roberta Kaplan expressed gratitude for the court’s decision, stating, “We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties’ arguments.”
The lawsuit brought by Carroll alleged that Trump sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996 and later defamed her by dismissing her claims as a “hoax” and “con job.” Trump, who did not testify or present a defense case, focused his appeal on what he claimed were errors by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, including allowing testimony from two other women who said they had been sexually assaulted by Trump in the past.
Trump is also appealing a separate $83 million defamation judgment in another case related to defamatory comments he made about Carroll while he was president. This case, initially filed by Carroll before the $5 million judgment, had been delayed as Trump argued that his comments were protected by presidential immunity, a claim that was rejected by Judge Kaplan. Trump is appealing that verdict to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as well.
