Washington, DC – January 27, 2024
Former US President Donald Trump has been ordered by a jury to pay $83.3 million in damages to writer E. Jean Carroll for defamation, following her accusations of sexual assault against him. This verdict, delivered on Friday, marks the conclusion of years of litigation surrounding Carroll’s pursuit of retribution against Trump for his public attacks on her character.
Key facts emerging from the trial reveal that the jury’s decision includes a substantial $65 million award for punitive damages, in addition to $18.3 million in compensatory damages. Carroll initially filed a lawsuit against Trump in November 2019, asserting defamation after he refuted her allegations of sexual assault by stating she wasn’t “my type.”
A second lawsuit was filed by Carroll in November 2022, alleging defamation and sexual assault. The trial for this lawsuit commenced in May 2023, with the jury ruling in favor of Carroll, affirming that Trump did defame and assault her, though they did not find evidence of rape.
This recent trial focused solely on determining the extent of damages owed to Carroll, considering that Trump had already been found liable for defamation and sexual assault in the first trial. The proceedings began on January 16 and concluded with the jury’s verdict on Friday.
Observers anticipate Trump’s potential appeal of this ruling, given his previous appeal of the verdict in Carroll’s first trial. However, Trump will be required to transfer the awarded sum into a court-controlled account while any appeals are ongoing, as he did in the initial case.
Despite legal proceedings, Trump has continued to criticize Carroll on social media platforms in recent weeks and months, with over 40 posts about her on a single day. Whether Carroll intends to pursue further defamation claims against Trump for his recent remarks remains to be seen.
