In a stunning turn of events, a jury has ruled that former President Donald Trump should pay writer E. Jean Carroll a total of $83.3 million in damages and punitive damages, amounting to millions of dollars for the second time in less than a year. This follows a previous case where a separate jury sided with Carroll in a trial that awarded her $5 million for defamation and abuse.
The legal battles between Carroll and Trump stem from allegations made by Carroll that Trump raped her in a New York department store dressing room in the 1990s. After publicly refuting her allegations, Trump called Carroll a liar and insinuated she was seeking money through her claims. This led Carroll to sue Trump for defamation, arguing that his statements damaged her reputation and exposed her to threats.
The recent trial was focused on defining compensation for Carroll after defamation and abuse had already been proven in the previous process. Following the jury’s verdict, Trump must now pay Carroll $83.3 million, including $7.3 million in damages, $11 million for reputational repairs, and $65 million in punitive damages.
However, Trump has expressed outrage and has vowed to appeal the ruling, casting doubt on whether Carroll will receive the money. Legal experts have noted that the process could be drawn out, and predicted that until the appeals are resolved, Carroll may not have access to the funds. It is worth noting that Trump had to place $5.5 million in an account supervised by the justice system to comply with the previous defamation sentence.
The trial also included some dramatic moments, with Trump storming out of the courtroom and the judge threatening to detain his lawyer after she continued speaking despite being instructed not to. Amidst these theatrical scenes, Carroll’s attorney urged the jury to send a message to Trump, a man who has “time and time again shown contempt for the law.”
The latest verdict adds to the legal troubles faced by the former president, marking yet another chapter in the ongoing legal battles against him.
It remains to be seen how the appeal process will unfold, and whether Carroll will eventually receive the awarded compensation. For now, tensions remain high as both parties grapple with the aftermath of the trial.