A federal jury has decided that former President Donald Trump must pay more than $83 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll after he denied allegations that he raped her in the 1990s.
The jury determined that Trump must pay $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages.
Federal Judge Lewis A. Kaplan announced the jury's verdict on Friday.
Trump defends on stage, slams Jean Carroll trial: “This is not America''
A federal jury in New York City ruled last year that Trump was not responsible for rape but was responsible for sexual abuse and defamation. The former president was ordered to pay $5 million in that case.
Immediately after the rulings were read, President Trump tweeted, “Absolutely ridiculous! I totally disagree with both rulings and plan to appeal the entire Biden-led witch hunt focused on me and the Republican Party.” Posted on his TRUTH social. “Our legal system is out of control and being used as a political weapon. They have taken away all of our First Amendment rights.”
President Trump added, “This is not America!”
Carroll was seeking $12 million, alleging that Trump raped her sometime in 1996 at the Bergdorf Goodman department store across from Trump Tower in Manhattan.
E. Jean Carroll filed a defamation suit against Trump, accusing him of damaging his reputation after vehemently denying sexual assault allegations. (AP Photo/Eduardo Muñoz Alvarez, File)
Trump, the top Republican candidate in 2024, has repeatedly and vehemently denied the allegations. His denials led to Trump being slapped with a defamation lawsuit, accusing Carroll's response of damaging her reputation.
The jury found that Carroll was injured by comments made by President Trump in June 2019 while he was at the White House.
The jury awarded Carroll $7.3 million in non-reputational remediation program damages and $11 million in reputation remediation program damages. The jury found that Trump's comments were intended to harm Carroll and awarded her $65 million in punitive damages. In total, the jury said Carroll should be awarded $83.3 million.
Trump briefly took the stand Thursday to defend himself.
Former President Donald Trump speaks after leaving the courtroom for recess at the New York State Supreme Court on December 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Eduardo Muñoz Alvarez, File)
Trump was first asked if he had seen the deposition taking place in court, to which he replied, “Yes.”
Next, when asked if he stood by what he said in the deposition, he answered, “100 percent, yes.”
Third, he was asked if he had ever threatened Carroll in a tweet or social media post.
“No,” President Trump said. “I was just protecting myself from false allegations.”
The judge criticized President Trump's comments for going beyond a yes-or-no answer.
“This is not America,” Trump repeated on his way out of the courtroom.
Trump and his defense team have argued that Carroll's claims are a fabrication, and the former president's initial reactions included accusations that Carroll's motive was to sell copies of her book. .
President Trump repeatedly told Fox News Digital: “I have no idea who this woman is.”
On Friday, after the conclusion of arguments, President Trump posted on his “Truth Social” account that Judge Kaplan said, “During E. Jean Carroll's interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN, Carroll said “Rape is sexy,'' and other He refuses to allow a number of things that would completely exonerate him.” . ” President Trump was referring to evidence that could be presented at trial.
“Judge Kaplan is denying people their constitutional right to due process to protect themselves from this false accusation,” Trump wrote. “This is a one-sided trial where the other side gets everything and we get nothing. He is a very abusive person, the likes of which I have never seen before!”
Trump also posted images of Carroll's tweets dating back to 2015 on his Truth Social account last week. In one image, Carroll wrote, “How do you know an 'unwanted sexual advance' is unwanted until you make one yourself?”
Trump also said that Carroll was “making noise all over the place” about the timing of this alleged 'incident' when it didn't actually happen, and that Robert, the lunatic radical left-wing Democrat operative lawyer who previously sued me,・I am receiving guidance from Mr. Kaplan.'' And I just lost. ”
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“I am the only person injured in this extortion attempt,” Trump wrote.
This is a developing story. Please check back for the latest information.
