Federal Court Upholds Ruling Against Trump
A federal appeals court has confirmed an $88.3 million verdict against President Donald Trump linked to writer E. Jean Carroll’s claims of defamation.
This decision, made by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, supports a lower court’s finding that Trump denied Carroll’s allegations in 2019 after she accused him of sexual assault, which she described in a book about a brief interaction in a department store dressing room during the 1990s.
Trump has consistently rejected Carroll’s claims, asserting he never met her and suggesting her accusations were merely an attempt to boost her book’s sales.
These denials prompted Carroll to seek damages for defamation and emotional distress.
The court’s opinion stated, “Trump could not identify any basis to ensure that his prior claim of presidential immunity would be upheld. The district court did not err in any of its rulings, and the damages awarded are fair and reasonable.”
The opinion further noted, “The evidence supports the conclusion that the level of condemnation for Trump’s behavior is significantly elevated, perhaps even unprecedented.”
A panel of judges referred to Carroll as a liar, with Trump declaring, “85.8 to 144 million people saw it,” and added that Carroll faced continuous backlash on social media.
This ruling follows another case involving Carroll that was dismissed by the same court, which challenged Trump’s legal team to present her in civil litigation, referencing the Access Hollywood tapes that surfaced during the 2016 election.
The situation could escalate to the Supreme Court, as a full panel of judges has declined to hear Trump’s appeal.
