Donald Trump Ordered to Pay Millions to E. Jean Carroll for Defamation

A New York jury has ruled that former President Donald Trump must pay E. Jean Carroll an amount totaling $83.3 million. The sum is in response to Trump’s defamatory remarks towards Carroll, an advice columnist who accused him of sexual assault. The jury awarded Carroll $65 million in punitive damages, $11 million for damage to her reputation, and an additional $7.3 million.

It was not surprising that the verdict went in favor of Carroll, as Judge Lewis Kaplan had already ruled before the trial that Trump had indeed defamed her. The jury’s task was solely to determine the amount of compensation owed, not whether Trump was liable. This is the second time Trump has been ordered to pay Carroll, as last year, he was mandated to pay $5 million in a separate defamation case.

Reacting to the verdict, the Trump 2024 campaign released a statement dismissing the trial as a “political weapon” but provided no evidence to support the claim. The statement expressed complete disagreement with both verdicts and announced plans for an appeal, labeling it as part of a “Biden Directed Witch Hunt” focused on Trump and the Republican Party.

Just days after winning the New Hampshire primary and becoming the GOP front-runner, Trump now faces this significant penalty. He also awaits the outcome of a civil trial in which he may owe at least $250 million to New York state for fraudulent business practices deemed by a judge. Furthermore, Trump’s ability to conduct business could be restricted in the state where he built his real estate empire. With a total of 91 charges pending across federal and state trials, Trump faces a range of legal challenges, including those related to the January 6 Capitol riot.

In 2019, E. Jean Carroll, an advice columnist and freelance writer, accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s, which she detailed in her book and a New York magazine article. Trump responded with two statements, one denying the claim outright and remarking, “She’s not my type.” Carroll sued Trump for defamation, asserting that his comments had tarnished her reputation as a trustworthy media source. She also endured a barrage of insults and threats via social media and other channels.

The lawsuit faced initial obstacles as Trump’s Attorney General at the time, Bill Barr, blocked it, contending that Trump had made the comments in his official capacity as president. However, in 2023, Biden’s Justice Department reversed this decision, allowing the defamation lawsuit to proceed. The reversal, combined with a prior ruling that found Trump liable for assault, led Judge Kaplan to determine that Trump had indeed defamed Carroll in 2019.

Carroll herself testified as the first witness, coming face to face with Trump, who attended the initial days of the trial. She expressed how Trump’s branding her as a liar had shattered the world she had known. Prior to Trump’s remarks, she received numerous emails seeking her advice as an advice columnist, but they had since dwindled to fewer than ten per month. Instead, she received a surge of threats and insults. During the trial, Carroll’s lawyer presented the jury with several examples of the abusive messages sent to her via social media and email in the aftermath of Trump’s statements.

On the defense side, Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, argued that damages should not be attributed directly to Trump. Habba also highlighted social media posts made within the five-hour gap between the publication of Carroll’s allegations and Trump’s comments subject to the lawsuit. Additionally, Habba questioned Carroll’s motive for suing and why she had deleted the threats sent to her email.

As the trial concludes, Trump, who had pledged to testify in his defense, did not take the witness stand.

Proper Nouns: Donald Trump, E. Jean Carroll, Manhattan Federal Court, New York City, Lewis Kaplan, Bill Barr, Biden, Attorney General, Alina Habba, Trump Tower, New Hampshire, GOP, New York state, Jan. 6 Capitol riot.