New York Court of Appeals Rejects Trump’s Bid
The New York Court of Appeals declined President Donald Trump’s request to overturn a verdict that found he had sexually abused and defamed former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll.
The unanimous panel from the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals left open the possibility for Trump to appeal to the Supreme Court. This case, which has been ongoing since Carroll’s startling allegation in 2019, involves claims that Trump raped her in a dressing room three decades ago.
During the process, Trump challenged the evidence presented by Carroll’s legal team, which included recordings from the 2016 Trump campaign.
Judges Express Dissent
Two judges, who were appointed by Trump, dissented from the appellate court’s decision, arguing they would have favored reconsidering the verdict. They remarked that the infamous Access Hollywood tape didn’t provide relevant context to Carroll’s accusations and pointed out that such evidence is typically not acceptable in court.
“If this opinion stands, future plaintiffs or governments could bring up evidence of past sexual advances by the defendant,” the dissenting judges stated.
In related news, Trump recently scored what was described as a “clear victory” against members of the Pulitzer Prize Committee in a separate court ruling.
Carroll’s Legal Battles
Carroll initially sued Trump after releasing her book in 2019, claiming he raped her during a brief encounter in a department store in the 1990s. Trump has strongly denied the allegations, insisting he never met Carroll and that her accusations were fabricated to promote her book. His statements have led to accusations of defamation from Carroll.
The decision from the appeals court stems from a 2022 lawsuit where a jury awarded Carroll $5 million, finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The court also declared that Trump did not rape Carroll, contradicting her claims. Carroll filed a subsequent lawsuit shortly after her book was published, which led to a ruling awarding her $83 million, a decision Trump is currently appealing.
