A New York jury has ordered former President Donald Trump to pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for ruining her credibility as an advice columnist when he called her a liar after she accused him of sexual assault. The jury awarded Carroll $65 million in punitive damages, $11 million for the damage to her reputation, and another $7.3 million. Trump is almost certain to appeal the verdict. The verdict was not unexpected, as Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled even before the trial that Trump had defamed Carroll. This is the second time Trump has been ordered to pay Carroll; last year he was mandated by a jury to pay $5 million for a separate instance of defamation.
In response, the Trump 2024 campaign issued a statement arguing, without offering evidence, that the trial is a “political weapon.” The case is about an advice columnist and freelance writer who accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in the ’90s. After the article’s publication, Trump issued two statements in response to reporters, including one in which he outright denied her claim and said she was “not my type.” Carroll then sued Trump for defamation, arguing that his comments ruined her reputation as a trusted source in the media and resulted in a slew of insults and threatening messages, emails, and comments to her social media accounts.
Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, argued damages ought not be traced back to Trump himself. Habba also showed the jury several social media posts, messages, and emails sent to Carroll in the following days after Trump’s statements. Trump doubled down on allegations Carroll is lying and took the witness stand in his defense on Jan. 25. Beyond his testimony, Trump was present for several days of the trial and was vocal about the case outside the courtroom. Judge Kaplan warned Trump that his right to be present could be taken away during the first day of testimony.