The US Second Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld an $83.3 million defamation verdict in favor of writer E. Jean Carroll, confirming a jury’s decision that former President Donald Trump defamed her by dismissing her 2019 sexual assault allegations as false. This ruling reinforces an earlier finding that ordered Trump to pay $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages. The court’s decision noted that Trump’s derogatory statements about Carroll were “more extreme and frequent as the trial approached” and deemed the jury’s verdict “fair and reasonable” in light of the circumstances.
The court closely examined Trump’s persistent efforts to undermine Carroll’s credibility, which included claims that she was motivated by personal, financial, and political reasons. The panel remarked, “The statements all shared common themes,” as it underscored Trump’s repeated assertions that Carroll was lying. The appeals court also highlighted the nature of the statements, which implied Carroll was too unattractive to be sexually assaulted, contributing to the awarded damages, seen as fitting given the “extraordinary and egregious facts.”
Trump’s argument for presidential immunity, grounded in a 2024 Supreme Court ruling, was rejected by the court. The judges stated that such immunity does not extend to civil defamation cases and emphasized that Trump had waived this defense by not raising it earlier. This decision follows another legal loss for Trump, where a $5 million verdict was upheld, finding him liable for sexual abuse and defamation related to similar statements made in 2022.
Trump’s legal team accused Carroll of “weaponizing” the legal system for political reasons, branding her litigation as “Carroll Hoaxes.” However, Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, asserted that the Second Circuit’s decision affirmed that E. Jean Carroll was truthful about her account, while Trump was not. The legal team looks forward to concluding the appellate process to ensure justice is served.
This recent ruling adds another layer to Trump’s complex legal battles and highlights ongoing implications for civil litigation involving public figures. For further details, you can read the full report on JURIST.