Federal Appeals Court Affirms Massive $83.3 Million Defamation Judgment Against Donald Trump for E. Jean Carroll

In a significant legal development, a federal appeals court has firmly upheld the massive $83.3 million defamation award against former President Donald Trump in the case brought by E. Jean Carroll. The decision, delivered by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, represents a substantial victory for Carroll and a continued legal setback for Trump.

The three-judge panel unequivocally rejected Trump's multi-faceted arguments.

Trump had contended that the damages awarded were excessive and infringed upon his First Amendment rights to free speech. He also claimed that U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the trial, had made critical errors, particularly in allowing Carroll to present evidence of similar sexual assault allegations made by other women against Trump.

However, the appeals court found no merit in these challenges, confirming the legitimacy of the jury's findings.

The substantial $83.3 million judgment comprises several key components. It includes $7.3 million designated for emotional harm Carroll suffered, an additional $11 million to fund her efforts in repairing her reputation, and a significant $65 million in punitive damages.

These punitive damages reflect the jury's finding that Trump acted with malice and a reckless disregard for the truth in his defamatory statements.

The former president has consistently and vehemently denied Carroll's accusations that he sexually assaulted her in a New York department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

Despite the court's latest ruling, Trump has vowed to continue his legal fight, stating his intention to appeal the verdict further. This stance is consistent with his past reactions to unfavorable legal outcomes.

This recent ruling builds upon a protracted legal battle. Carroll initially filed her defamation lawsuit in 2019 after Trump publicly denied her claims of sexual assault.

In a separate, earlier trial in May 2023, another jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her with different statements in 2022, awarding her $5 million. The $83.3 million award stems from a subsequent trial specifically focused on damages for Trump's initial 2019 statements, where liability for defamation had already been established.

The legal challenges continue to mount for Trump, who is currently navigating multiple high-profile cases, including an upcoming criminal hush-money trial.

For E. Jean Carroll, the appeals court's affirmation brings a sense of vindication. Her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan (no relation to the judge), celebrated the ruling, stating that the court "correctly affirmed the jury's verdict in every respect."