Court Upholds $5M Judgment Against Trump in E. Jean Carroll Sexual Assault Case

A federal appeals court upheld the decision of a New York jury regarding Donald Trump’s sexual abuse of magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, which occurred in an upscale Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed the jury’s $5 million award to Carroll, rejecting Trump’s claims that there were errors in evidentiary rulings made during the trial.

The three-judge panel stated, “The jury made its assessment of the facts and claims on a properly developed record,” dismissing the arguments from Trump’s legal team as unpersuasive. Trump’s lawyers had contended that U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan mismanaged the admission of evidence concerning other alleged sexual assaults by Trump during the trial.

Despite the defense’s claims, the appeals court concluded that any errors cited did not substantially impact Trump’s rights during the proceedings. The panel consisted of judges appointed by former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Carroll’s attorney, Robbie Kaplan, expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling, highlighting the thoroughness of their arguments. Carroll, who previously worked as an advice columnist for Elle magazine, testified that a friendly encounter with Trump escalated into a violent incident in the dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman.

Carroll publicly revealed her allegations in 2019, which led to a civil lawsuit three years later, aided by new legislation in New York allowing adult survivors of sexual assault to pursue civil cases previously barred by statute limitations. Her lawsuit included claims of battery and defamation against Trump, focusing on his blanket denials and disparaging remarks about her appearance.

During the trial, significant evidence was presented, including the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood tape where Trump made controversial remarks about women. This evidence, along with testimonies from other women who accused Trump of similar misconduct, played a crucial role in Carroll’s case.

The jury ultimately found Trump liable on both counts, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages for sexual abuse and defamation. Trump’s subsequent appeal contested the severity of the awarded damages, although Judge Kaplan firmly rejected these arguments, clarifying that the jury’s decision emphasized the severity of Trump’s actions as understood by the general public.

Trump, who denied the allegations, did not testify during the initial trial but presented video testimony in later proceedings, which also resulted in significant financial repercussions against him.