Former President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay $83.3 million in damages for defamatory statements he made denying sexual assault allegations made by writer E. Jean Carroll. The federal jury reached the verdict after less than three hours of deliberation, awarding Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages. Carroll’s attorneys had asked for $24 million in compensatory damages and argued that the punitive damages should be enough to make Trump stop defaming her client.
Carroll emerged from the courthouse smiling and flanked by her legal team after the verdict was read aloud in federal court in lower Manhattan. She declined to speak to the media but issued a statement later, calling the verdict a great victory for every woman who stands up when she’s been knocked down and a huge defeat for every bully who has tried to keep a woman down.
Trump, in a social media post after the verdict, criticized the judicial system, calling it “Broken and Unfair!” He did not use his usual language of denying ever having met Carroll or calling her a liar.
The defamatory statements in question were made by Trump in response to an article written by Carroll in New York magazine in 2019, where she accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump denied the allegations and called Carroll a “whack job.” Carroll filed two defamation lawsuits over Trump’s comments, arguing that they ruined her reputation and subjected her to threats.
In the first trial in May 2023, a jury found Trump liable for defamation and sexual abuse and awarded Carroll $5 million. Before the second trial began, the judge ruled that Carroll was telling the truth about the assault and that Trump’s statements denying her claims were defamatory. The jury was then tasked with deciding the damages Carroll was entitled to receive.
The $83 million decision by the jury came just days after Trump won the New Hampshire primary, solidifying his status as the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.
Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, focused on a “five-hour gap” between Carroll’s allegations and Trump’s first defamatory statement, arguing that Carroll hadn’t proved causation between the statement and the ensuing harassment she received. Habba also pointed to moments in Carroll’s testimony where she seemed to be in good spirits after her allegations were made public.
Carroll’s attorney, Shawn Crowley, repeatedly pointed directly at Trump during her rebuttal, accusing him of sexually assaulting Carroll and lying about it. She emphasized that Trump should be held accountable and encouraged the jury to reach a verdict that would make him stop.
The verdict is a significant blow to Trump and may impact his reputation as he continues his political career. It remains to be seen whether he will appeal the decision.
This case highlights the importance of holding individuals accountable for their defamatory statements and shows that even former presidents are not immune to legal consequences. The verdict represents a victory for E. Jean Carroll and sends a message that women will not be silenced or bullied.
