© REUTERS
American presidential candidate Donald Trump must pay journalist E. Jean Carroll, who accused the former president of defamation, $83.3 million in damages. This was decided during the second lawsuit that the woman filed against him for defamation. Trump had previously been found guilty. He will appeal.
Friday January 26, 2024 at 10:43 PM
Earlier today, Trump had surprisingly left the courtroom. Shortly after journalist E. Jean Carroll’s lawyer began her closing argument, he straightened up and left. It was not disclosed why Trump left the room. Still, the process continued.
Sexual abuse
This case is the second that the 80-year-old Carroll has filed against Trump. In May, a jury found that Trump sexually assaulted Carroll in a fitting room at a luxury department store in 1996. Because Trump had portrayed her as a liar, he was also found guilty of defamation. However, the facts were legally barred and it was a civil lawsuit. As a result, he did not risk jail time, but he did have to pay $5 million in damages.
On the day of the verdict, Trump again insulted the woman on CNN: the real estate magnate claimed that he had never met Carroll and called her a fool. Carroll then took further legal action, which resulted in the current, second case. Right at the start of that trial, Judge Kaplan indicated that Trump’s statements were defamatory.
The jury only had to decide on Friday the amount of damages – Carroll is asking for more than 10 million dollars. Ultimately, she was awarded $83.3 million.
Trump appeals
The jury only had to decide on Friday the amount of damages – Carroll is asking for more than 10 million dollars. Ultimately, she was awarded $83.3 million. He will appeal against this, he already announced on his social medium Truth Social.