Appeals Court Upholds $83 Million Verdict Against Trump for Defaming E. Jean Carroll

Defamation Verdict Upheld

• ⚖️ A federal appeals court has upheld the $83.3 million jury award against President Donald Trump in favor of E. Jean Carroll.
• 📌 The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals found the jury award to be “reasonable” based on the evidence presented.

Background of the Lawsuit

• ✍️ The civil lawsuit was initially brought against Trump when he was out of office, concerning claims of sexual assault and defamation.
• 📚 E. Jean Carroll, a magazine columnist, accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s and defaming her when he denied the claims.
• 🗣️ Juries found Trump had sexually abused and defamed Carroll, awarding her $5 million in the first trial and $83.3 million in a second trial focused on defamation.

Appeals Court Reasoning

• 💰 The appeals court upheld the verdict, noting that a significant portion ($65 million) was for punitive damages intended to punish Trump.
• 📢 Judges highlighted that Trump continued to repeat defamatory statements, even within 48 hours of the verdict and during the trial, justifying the high award.

Next Steps in Litigation

• 🏛️ Donald Trump's legal team has stated they will continue to fight the verdict and may seek the Department of Justice's involvement.
• 🚀 The next potential step is a challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court, which would then decide whether to hear the case.