Former President Donald Trump has been directed by a federal jury to pay $83.3 million in damages for making defamatory statements in which he denied sexually assaulting the writer E. Jean Carroll.
This striking verdict was reached in under three hours of deliberation on Friday.
The jury’s decision comprised $18.3 million in compensatory damages, with $11 million designated for reputation restoration and $7.3 million for emotional distress.
Additionally, punitive damages amounted to $65 million.
Carroll’s Lawyers Pursue $24M in Trump Trial
During the trial, Carroll’s legal representatives had sought a compensatory award of $24 million, asserting that the punitive damages should be sufficient to deter further defamation of their client by compelling Trump to cease such actions.
Following the reading of the verdict in the federal court situated in lower Manhattan, Carroll emerged from the courthouse accompanied by her legal team, wearing a smile.
She refrained from addressing the multitude of cameras and reporters gathered outside but released a subsequent statement, expressing, “This marks a significant triumph for every woman who asserts herself after adversity and a substantial setback for every individual who attempts to suppress women.”
Verdict Affirmed: Judge Kaplan in Second Trump Tria
US District Judge Lewis Kaplan, overseeing both trials, confirmed the binding authority of the earlier verdict for the second trial, tasking jurors solely with determining the amount Trump must pay.
Trump, a Republican, strategically utilizes Carroll’s case and other legal challenges to bolster his campaign for a return to the White House in the upcoming November election.
This potentially sets the stage for a showdown with Democrat Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in 2020.
Facing 91 felony counts across four criminal indictments, including allegations of attempting to unlawfully overturn the 2020 election, Trump pleads not guilty in all cases.
He presents himself as a victim of politically motivated falsehoods and an ostensibly unrestrained judicial system.
During the Carroll trial, Trump voiced skepticism, labeling it a “con job” and a “witch hunt.” Claiming ignorance about Carroll, he received two admonishments from the judge for decorum. Trump briefly left during Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan’s closing argument but returned for his own lawyer’s presentation.
Roberta Kaplan, unrelated to the judge, argued that Trump conducted himself as if he were not bound by the law.