A federal court jury ordered former President Donald Trump on Friday to pay $83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll over defamatory remarks he made about her as president in response to her rape accusation.
E. Jean Carroll Wins Defamation Case Against Donald Trump
E. Jean Carroll has accused Donald Trump of harming her reputation as a trustworthy journalist by denying allegations in 2019 that he had raped her almost three decades ago.
The civil verdict came after the nine-member jury deliberated in the US District Court in Manhattan for almost three hours. The former president was not in the court while the unanimous verdict was being read, as he left before the jury reached a verdict.
Carroll's lawyer advocated for a significant payment from Trump for the defamation and denial of the rape accusation. The ordered payment consists of $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages.
This case was on top of a $5 million sexual abuse and defamation ruling that Carroll won against the former president last May.
Response of Donald Trump
In response to the verdict, Donald Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that he plans to appeal the latest decision as well, calling it "absolutely ridiculous."
Carroll will not be allowed to collect any money from the former president until the appeals are resolved. Despite the numerous legal challenges, including four criminal cases, Trump maintains his dominant position in the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
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