Federal Appeals Court Upholds Verdict Against Trump
A New York jury found after a nine-day civil trial last year that the former president had sexually abused E. Jean Carroll at a Manhattan department store in 1996.
Background
In 1996, E. Jean Carroll, a former advice columnist for Elle magazine, alleged that Donald Trump, then a wealthy businessman, sexually assaulted her at a department store in Manhattan. The incident allegedly took place when Trump was a married man, and his wife was pregnant.
Trial Proceedings
The case went to trial in 2022, and the jury returned a verdict that Trump was responsible for the sexual abuse and defamation. Trump was ordered to pay $2 million for sexual abuse and another $3 million for defaming Carroll. Trump denied the allegations and appealed the verdict.
Appeal Ruling
The three-judge panel of the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed with Trump’s appeal, ruling that he had not demonstrated that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings. The court concluded that Trump had not carried his burden to show that any claimed error or combination of claimed errors affected his substantial rights as required to warrant a new trial.
Consequences
Carroll was awarded $83 million by another jury in a separate case she brought against Trump. Trump has appealed that verdict as well. Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesman, stated that the Republican would lodge a further appeal against the $5 million damages awarded in the sexual abuse and defamation case.
Other Legal Proceedings
Two federal cases brought against Trump by special counsel Jack Smith have been dismissed since he won the November 5 presidential election. Trump was accused of mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House and seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Smith dropped the cases under a Justice Department policy of not prosecuting a sitting president.
Conclusion
The ruling is a significant victory for E. Jean Carroll, who has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights and has written extensively on issues related to sexual harassment and assault. The case highlights the importance of holding powerful individuals accountable for their actions, even when they are in positions of authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the significance of this ruling?
A: The ruling is significant because it upholds a jury verdict that found Donald Trump responsible for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll.
Q: What are the consequences of this ruling?
A: Trump is required to pay $5 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll, and he has also been ordered to pay $83 million in a separate case.
Q: What is the current status of the other legal proceedings against Trump?
A: Two federal cases brought against Trump by special counsel Jack Smith have been dismissed, and Trump was convicted in New York of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.