A U.S. jury has ruled that former U.S. President Trump must pay $83.3 million in damages for defaming the female writer Carroll. Trump said he would appeal the verdict, which he called “ridiculous.”
On Friday (January 26), a jury ruled that former US President Trump must pay US$83.3 million in damages for defaming female writer E. Jean Carroll. The compensation includes US$18.3 million in reputational damages and US$65 million in punitive damages. Carroll sued Trump in 2019, accusing him of damaging her reputation as a trustworthy journalist by denying that he sexually assaulted her nearly 30 years ago. At that time, Trump was still the president of the United States.
The jury heard closing arguments in the case. Carroll’s lawyers have called on Trump to pay a “heavy” price for defaming Carroll and denying raping her. Trump said on his own social media platform “Truth” that he would appeal the verdict in Carroll’s defamation case, adding that Friday’s decision was “ridiculous.”
Friday’s trial lasted less than three hours. During the trial, the former president was heard muttering under his breath that the case was a “fraud” and a “witch hunt,” and he claimed not to know who Carroll was. The judge twice asked him to keep quiet. Trump left the courtroom as Carroll’s attorneys made their final arguments. He later returned to court for his own lawyer’s briefing.
Carroll said Trump acted as if his actions were exempt from the law. She added: “This trial is about putting an end to his behavior once and for all… now is the time to make him pay a huge price for it.”
Trump’s lawyers said Carroll was enjoying her newfound fame and was “happier” than ever before, citing her testimony that she had entered a “cocoon of love” among supporters.
Friday’s jury consists of seven men and two women. It’s the second time in nine months that a jury has reached a verdict in a case involving Carroll. In May last year, another jury ruled that Trump must pay Carroll $5 million in damages for sexual assault. Trump also faces charges in four criminal cases, including two counts of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, to which Trump has pleaded not guilty.
Despite the lawsuit, Trump won the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday (January 23), putting him one step closer to becoming the 2024 Republican presidential candidate.