Trump ordered to pay $83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll, appeals court rules
Carroll testified that Trump’s denials and insults triggered hundreds of death threats, cost her her decades-long career at Elle magazine
NEW YORK, United States (MNTV) — A federal appeals court has upheld an $83.3 million defamation award against US President Donald Trump, ruling that he must pay damages to writer E. Jean Carroll for years of false statements and public attacks over her sexual assault allegations.
The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s appeal on Tuesday, calling the jury’s damages “fair and reasonable.” The panel said Trump’s conduct reached an “extraordinary and unprecedented” level of harm.
“The record supports the determination that the degree of reprehensibility of Mr. Trump’s conduct was remarkably high, perhaps unprecedented,” the judges wrote, noting that Carroll faced relentless harassment and death threats as a result of his statements.
Trump’s legal team argued the $65 million in punitive damages was excessive and sought a new trial, citing the US Supreme Court’s expansion of presidential immunity. The court dismissed those claims, ruling the award “did not exceed the bounds of reasonableness.”
Carroll’s lawyer Roberta Kaplan welcomed the ruling, saying it confirmed “E. Jean Carroll was telling the truth, and President Donald Trump was not.” She added that they look forward to “an end to the appellate process.”
Carroll, now 81, testified that Trump’s denials and insults triggered hundreds of death threats, cost her her decades-long career at Elle magazine, and ended her appearances on television.
The case stems from Carroll’s 2019 memoir, in which she accused Trump of sexually assaulting her at a New York department store in 1996. Trump repeatedly denied the allegations, mocked her as “not my type,” and accused her of fabricating the story to sell books.
The appeals court emphasized that Trump not only sustained but escalated his attacks for more than five years — even during the trial itself. At one point, he vowed he would “continue to defame Carroll a thousand times.”
Trump’s attorneys denounced the ruling, accusing Democrats of weaponizing the justice system and calling the case a “Carroll Hoax.”
Legal analysts expect Trump to appeal to the Republican-majority US Supreme Court for a final decision.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
