A federal appeals court has upheld a $5-million verdict against Donald Trump, finding the former US President liable for sexually assaulting and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. The jury’s verdict came in May 2023 after Carroll accused Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room in 1996.
Trump’s lawyers argued that the trial was unfair and that the court should not have allowed jurors to hear evidence of Trump’s alleged past sexual misconduct. However, the three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected these claims, stating that the evidence was relevant to show a pattern of conduct consistent with Carroll’s allegations.
The court found that Trump’s boasting about his sexual prowess in a 2016 “Access Hollywood” video was consistent with Carroll’s account of the 1996 assault. Additionally, the court upheld the inclusion of testimony from two other women who accused Trump of sexual misconduct.
The court stated that Trump’s alleged actions did not affect the jury’s deliberations, but rather showed a repeated, idiosyncratic pattern of conduct that tends to directly corroborate Carroll’s allegations.
In a statement, Trump’s spokesperson called the decision a “witch hunt” and claimed that Trump will continue to appeal the case. However, Carroll’s lawyers have hailed the decision as a victory and reiterated that Carroll will continue to fight for justice.
The case began in 1996, with Carroll accusing Trump of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room. Trump initially denied the claims, calling Carroll a liar, but the jury ultimately awarded Carroll $5 million for sexual assault and defamation.
In January, a separate jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million for defamation and damages to her reputation, which Carroll and her lawyers intend to appeal.
