Donald Trump faces another legal setback as a federal appeals court has upheld the $5 million verdict awarded to E. Jean Carroll in her sexual assault and defamation lawsuit against the former president, Jurist News reported yesterday. The decision, announced on New Year’s Eve by The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, upholds a May 2023 Manhattan jury trial that found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll, who authored the ‘Ask E. Jean’ column in Elle from 1993 until 2020. Carroll claimed Trump sexually assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1996 and defaming her when he publicly dismissed her claims as a “hoax” and “con job.” Carroll filed the lawsuit under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which allowed survivors of sexual assault to bring civil claims long after the statute of limitations had expired.
The Second Circuit rejected Trump’s arguments that the trial was unfair and upheld the jury’s findings. The three-judge panel agreed that sufficient evidence supported Carroll’s allegations and that Trump’s statements about her were defamatory.
“Both E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today’s decision,” Roberta Kaplan, Ms. Carroll’s lawyer, said in a statement per reporting by The New York Times. “We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties’ arguments.” Carroll added that the ruling offered a measure of vindication after years of enduring public attacks from Trump and his supporters.
In their ruling, the appellate judges noted that Trump’s derogatory remarks about Carroll were “far from merely opinion,” citing substantial harm to her reputation. They also upheld the jury’s determination that Trump acted with actual malice, a key requirement for defamation claims.
Trump’s legal team has signaled their intention to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. His spokesperson, Steven Cheung, told Fox News that the former president remains committed to fighting what he described as “a politically motivated witch hunt.”
Legal analysts say the Second Circuit’s decision could have broader implications for Trump’s pending defamation case with Carroll. That case relates to statements he made in 2019 while serving as president, in which he denied ever meeting Carroll and suggested she fabricated her claims for publicity. The appeals court’s decision to uphold the $5 million verdict could set a precedent that influences how future cases against Trump unfold.
In January 2024, a Manhattan jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million for defaming her in 2019 after she publicly accused him of rape. The defamation included statements made on social media, during news conferences, and even throughout the trial. Ms. Carroll’s legal team emphasized that a substantial award was essential to deter Mr. Trump from continuing his disparaging remarks about her, the New York Times reported.
Carroll’s victory in court highlights the enduring impact of New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which has already led to numerous high-profile lawsuits. Advocates hope the law will continue to empower survivors to come forward and hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of their status or power.
