There is always a price to pay for going around calling people names for speaking the truth. And the price former President Donald Trump must pay for calling E. Jean Carroll a “whack job,” is $83.3 million.
In a groundbreaking verdict, a federal jury ruled that Trump is to pay $83.3 million in damages for defamatory statements denying he sexually assaulted writer E. Jean Carroll. The jury awarded Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages.
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E. Jean Carroll’s Lawsuit Against Donald Trump
Carroll, a former advice columnist, accused former president Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s. A civil trial last year found the allegations true. Trump, then president, vehemently denied the allegations, calling Carroll a “whack job” and claiming never to have met her. Carroll filed defamation lawsuits in 2019 and 2022, claiming Trump’s disparagements harmed her reputation and led to grave threats. In the first trial in May 2023, a jury found Trump liable for defamation and sexual abuse, awarding Carroll $5 million.
Before the second trial, the judge affirmed Carroll’s truthfulness about the assault, focusing the jury on determining damages. During the trial, Carroll’s attorney Roberta Kaplan, emphasized Trump’s repeated denials, portraying them as false and defamatory. Kaplan underscored Trump’s financial interests, claiming money is the one thing he cares about. Despite Trump’s protests, the jury’s decision marks a significant outcome in the ongoing legal battle.
They asked the jury for $24 million in compensatory damages and a punitive amount to “make him stop” defaming Carroll.
After the verdict, Carroll emerged from the courthouse, expressing triumph for women standing up against bullies. She stated, “This is a great victory for every woman who’s been knocked down.”
In case you missed it: What Did Donald Trump Do To E. Jean Carroll, According To Her Claims?
Donald Trump’s Response To The Verdict
The former President, who had already left the courthouse, took to Truth Social, his social media platform, calling the judicial system “Broken and unfair!” He fully disagreed with the verdict and vowed to appeal again, characterizing it as a “Biden directed witch hunt.”
The jury’s decision comes amid Trump’s victory in the New Hampshire primary, reinforcing his status as the Republican front-runner for the presidential nomination.
Trump declared, “Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!” Notably, Trump’s response lacked his usual language of denying ever meeting Carroll or dismissing the case as a “hoax.”
During closing arguments, Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, emphasized Trump’s continued defamatory statements, urging the jury to award compensatory damages. Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, highlighted a perceived gap in 2019 and challenged the causation between Trump’s comments and subsequent harassment.
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