The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has upheld a $5 million verdict against former President Donald Trump in a case concerning both sexual assault and defamation brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. This decision reinforces an earlier ruling and keeps intact the monetary damages awarded to Carroll.
Trump’s defense team challenged the lower court’s findings, particularly the inclusion of evidence supporting allegations of other sexual assaults committed by Trump. They argued that the evidence was inadmissible under the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE), claiming it constituted inadmissible propensity evidence. Despite this challenge, the appeals court confirmed that such evidence is allowed under FRE Rule 415, which permits evidence of other sexual offenses in civil cases based on allegations of sexual misconduct. The court further noted that Carroll’s defamation claim was sufficiently linked to the sexual assault allegation to legitimize the inclusion of the evidence.
In addition to the FRE argument, Trump’s legal team contended that the trial court unfairly restricted his defense by excluding certain evidential content and limiting cross-examination opportunities. These restrictions included evidence suggesting that Carroll’s legal expenses were funded by Trump’s political adversaries and that Carroll allegedly coached another sexual assault witness. The appeals court rejected these arguments, holding that the trial court’s decisions did not warrant a reversal of the verdict.
E. Jean Carroll initially sued Trump for defamation after he publicly denied sexually assaulting her. The case centered on Trump’s statements made in 2019 and 2022, which Carroll asserted were defamatory. A federal judge ruled in her favor regarding Trump’s 2019 statement in September 2023. Trump then appealed the decision related to his 2022 statement, leading to the current appellate ruling.
This legal setback for Trump follows a contrasting outcome in a separate defamation case, where Trump recently secured a $16 million settlement with ABC News. In that case, Trump had filed suit following statements by news anchor George Stephanopoulos regarding the Carroll allegations.
The continuous legal battles underscore the complexities surrounding defamation and sexual assault claims, especially when they involve high-profile figures and their interactions with media reportage.