A New York jury has decided that Donald Trump should pay $83.3 million (£65m) for defaming columnist E. Jean Carroll in 2019 while he was serving as the US president.
A New York jury has ruled that former President Donald Trump must pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for damaging her credibility as an advice columnist. This decision came after Trump called her a liar following her accusation of sexual assault against him.
The jury granted Carroll $65 million for punitive damages, $11 million for the harm to her reputation, and an additional $7.3 million. Trump is expected to appeal the verdict.
The jury’s decision wasn’t unexpected. Prior to the trial, Judge Lewis Kaplan had already ruled that Trump had defamed Carroll. The jury’s task was simply to decide the amount Trump owed her. This marks the second time Trump has been instructed to pay Carroll; last year, a jury ordered him to pay $5 million for another defamation case.
In response, the Trump 2024 campaign criticized the verdict, stating that the trial was a “political weapon” without evidence. They strongly disagreed with the verdicts and announced plans to appeal, describing it as a “Biden-directed witch hunt” aimed at Trump and the Republican Party.
The jury’s decision arrives shortly after Trump secured the GOP front-runner spot by winning the New Hampshire primary. He’s tangled in various legal battles, potentially facing a $250 million payout for fraudulent business practices in New York. Trump might also face restrictions on conducting business in the state where he built his real estate empire. In total, he’s confronting 91 charges in federal and state trials, including those stemming from the January 6 Capitol riot.
What Case is about E. Jean Carroll ?
In 2019, E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of assaulting her in the 1990s, detailed in her book. Trump denied it, saying she wasn’t his type. Carroll sued for defamation, claiming his remarks harmed her reputation. Initially blocked by Trump’s Attorney General, the lawsuit resumed in 2023 under Biden’s Justice Department. After a ruling finding Trump liable for assault, a judge held him accountable for defaming Carroll.
E. Jean Carroll, the accuser, was the first to testify in court, directly facing Donald Trump, who attended the trial’s start.
Carroll testified that Trump’s accusation shattered her world. Previously receiving hundreds of advice-seeking emails, she now gets fewer than 10 a month, along with threats and insults. Her lawyer presented the jury with various social media posts, messages, and emails Carroll received after Trump’s remarks.
Carroll expressed, “I sued to get my reputation back.”
Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, argued that damages shouldn’t be directly linked to Trump. Habba presented social media posts to the jury, posted during the five-hour gap between Carroll’s allegations being published and Trump’s comments that sparked the lawsuit.
Habba also emphasized the support Carroll received for her allegation and questioned her motives for suing and deleting threats from her email.
Trump maintained his assertion that Carroll is lying:
Trump maintained his assertion that Carroll is lying, despite his earlier pledge to testify. His brief testimony reiterated his unwavering stance. Trump denied ever instructing anyone to harm Carroll, emphasizing his intention to protect himself, his family, and his presidency.
Throughout the trial, Trump attended and spoke outside the courtroom. Despite warnings from the judge about commenting during Carroll’s testimony, he continued to express his views at campaign rallies and to reporters, alleging the trial amounted to election interference.
Who is Alina Habba?
Alina Habba serves as Donald Trump’s trial lawyer in the defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll. During the trial, Trump received a warning from the judge regarding his courtroom comments, with the judge cautioning against outbursts before the verdict. Carroll’s attorney emphasized the damage to her reputation caused by Trump’s denial of the sexual assault allegations. Trump’s lawyer argued against further damages, citing perceived flaws in Carroll’s claims. Habba maintained Trump’s innocence regarding the threats Carroll received. Throughout the trial, Judge Lewis Kaplan advised jurors to maintain anonymity due to the case’s sensitivity. Trump has alleged political motivation behind the legal actions against him as he positions himself for a potential rematch against Democratic President Joe Biden in the 2024 general election.