Appeals Court Upholds Award Against Trump

A federal appeals court panel has reaffirmed an $83.3 million award that was previously decided in favor of E. Jean Carroll against President Trump. This decision came on a Monday and reinforces Carroll’s claims regarding her abuse by Trump in the mid-1990s.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit had previously upheld Carroll’s win at her first trial, where the court found Trump liable for the alleged sexual abuse and imposed a $5 million penalty against him. Trump is currently considering appealing the ruling to the Supreme Court.

In the second trial, the court ruled that Trump’s public denial of Carroll’s allegations during his time in office amounted to slander, warranting the $83.3 million award.

Trump’s legal team contended that the award was exorbitant, claiming he should be protected by presidential immunity. They also argued that certain testimonies had been improperly excluded by the judge.

The appeals court wrote in its decision, which wasn’t signed by the committee, that there were no errors in the district court’s handling of the awards. They deemed the damages reasonable given the serious nature of the case.

The three-judge panel included Denny Chin, who was appointed by Trump, as well as Sarah Merriam and Maria Araujo Khan, both appointed by Biden.

After examining the case, the judges found that the district court was justified in concluding that only significant penalties would deter Trump’s behavior in the future.

Earlier in June, the court dealt a setback to Trump when his Justice Department declined to intervene in the matter.

Trump now has the option to appeal to the Supreme Court or request a review of the decision by the full Second Circuit.

In a statement, Trump’s legal team expressed that Americans are rallying behind him and criticized the court’s decisions as politically motivated. They asserted Trump’s determination to overcome “liberal laws” as he strives to “make America great again.”

Meanwhile, Carroll’s attorney, Robbie Kaplan, praised the ruling, asserting that it confirmed her client’s truthfulness. Kaplan emphasized the court’s findings about Trump’s “reckless indifference” to Carroll’s health and safety, and expressed eagerness to conclude the appeals process to ensure justice is served.

Updated at 11:44am