After the verdict was announced, Trump did not attend the courtroom, opting instead to continue his response on social media a few minutes later (Donald Trump ordered to pay $83.3 million for defaming Carroll in a New York court).
A New York jury has directed Donald Trump to pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, for defaming her when he denied accusations of sexual assault.
This verdict, a severe critique of his behavior, coincides with Trump’s presidential campaign for a return to the White House. The award was declared on Friday in a Manhattan federal court after a two-week trial.
Carroll’s testimony highlighted Trump’s false claims, which not only damaged her reputation but also subjected her to online abuse and threats from his followers, posing a risk to her life.
After approximately three hours of deliberation, a panel of seven men and two women reached a verdict following testimonies from various witnesses, including Trump and Carroll. The awarded amount comprises $18.3 million in compensation for damage to Carroll’s reputation and an additional $65 million in punitive damages.
The punitive damages aim to penalize Trump and act as a deterrent against future defamation. Carroll’s legal team had sought a minimum of $24 million in compensatory damages and a significant, unspecified sum in punitive damages to prevent further defamation. While the compensatory damages fell short of the requested amount, the substantial $65 million in punitive damages underscored the strength of Carroll’s case.
Absent from the courtroom during the verdict, Trump swiftly responded on social media, expressing intent to appeal and dismissing the decision as “absolutely ridiculous!” The substantial compensatory damages signal the jury’s acceptance of Carroll’s evidence that Trump’s statements significantly harmed her reputation as a trusted advice columnist, impacting her income and casting doubt on her professional future.
In parallel, the awarded punitive damages represent a significant victory for Carroll, affirming her contention that a wealthy and powerful figure like Trump should face a substantial financial penalty for his actions.
With a net worth of approximately $3.1 billion, as per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Trump faces a significant legal setback as a New York jury awards damages to E. Jean Carroll. In response, Carroll sees it as a triumph for women standing up against mistreatment.
This development places a spotlight on Trump’s alleged treatment of women, coming shortly after his New Hampshire primary win. As he pursues the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, Trump is confronted with trials in four criminal cases and a pending verdict in a $370 million civil fraud case filed by New York state over his asset valuations.
The jurors’ focus was solely on determining the financial penalty Trump would face. Before the trial, US District Judge Lewis Kaplan had already held Trump liable for defaming Carroll during his presidency. Judge Kaplan urged the jurors to enjoy the weekend and emphasized the importance of keeping their identities confidential.
Trump’s planned appeal is not unexpected, given his previous challenges in a case where he was held liable for sexual abuse and defamation. In that instance, the jury awarded Carroll a total of $5 million in damages.
The trial concluded on Friday morning with closing arguments from both sides. Trump, notably watched for his courtroom behavior, left abruptly during Carroll attorney Roberta Kaplan’s presentation, posting defiant comments on social media from elsewhere in the courthouse.
He returned 45 minutes later for fiery closing arguments from his lawyer, Alina Habba. Tensions rose as Carroll’s lawyers objected, leading to a judge’s threat to throw Habba behind bars for persistent arguments over rejected evidence. The trial featured emotional testimony from Carroll, who revealed purchasing bullets for her safety after Trump’s attacks. The defamatory statements from the White House accused Carroll of fabricating the assault. Trump, the final witness, spent less than five minutes on the stand due to imposed limits, reaffirming his denial and stating he issued the statements to defend himself, his family, and the presidency.
During the trial, the judge intervened, cutting off Trump and striking parts of his testimony from the record as he attempted to elaborate on his brief answers. Earlier, the judge had threatened to remove Trump from court due to loud complaints when the jury was present.
Trump argued that Carroll’s reputation had improved since accusing him of assault, citing her increased social media following in the anti-Trump “resistance.” He claimed online attacks were a result of her public allegations, not his denials.
Carroll countered that any popularity gain was overshadowed by fear and helplessness, noting a decline in advice column letters and loss of credibility as a writer after Trump labeled her a liar.
