In a statement, Carroll expressed that this marks a significant triumph for any woman who finds the strength to rise after being knocked down, and a substantial setback for every oppressor attempting to suppress women.
Photo - E. Jean Carroll and her lawyers, Shawn Crowley and Roberta Kaplan - outside Manhattan Federal Court (Credit -REUTERS)
A Manhattan jury issued a significant judgment on Friday, directing Donald Trump to pay $83.3 million to author E. Jean Carroll. Carroll asserted that his denial of raping her had harmed her reputation as a credible journalist.
Following a brief five-day trial, jurors in Manhattan federal court swiftly reached a verdict in under three hours. The awarded amount far exceeded Carroll's minimum request of $10 million, and Trump plans to appeal.
Trump has made Carroll's case a focal point in his bid for the White House in the upcoming November election. As the leading candidate in the Republican primary to potentially face Democratic President Joe Biden, Trump seeks a rematch after his defeat in 2020.
Trump attended the majority of the trial but was absent from the courtroom during the verdict.
Expressing his dissatisfaction on social media, Trump claimed, "Our legal system is out of control, being used as a political weapon. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!"
Carroll, 80, left the courthouse flanked by two of her lawyers, stating, "This is a significant victory for every woman who stands up after being knocked down and a major defeat for every bully trying to suppress women."
In November 2019, the former Elle magazine columnist sued Trump over his previous denials of raping her in the mid-1990s in a Manhattan department store dressing room. Carroll argued that Trump's denials damaged her reputation as a truthful journalist.
The jury, comprising seven men and two women, granted Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages, including $11 million for reputation harm. An additional $65 million in punitive damages was awarded to prevent Trump from further defaming her.
Trump, 77, maintained ignorance of Carroll, alleging she fabricated the story for publicity. His legal team portrayed Carroll as seeking fame and relishing the attention gained from opposing Trump.
In a similar case in May 2023, another jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $5 million over a denial in October 2022, finding him guilty of defamation and sexual abuse. Trump is appealing this decision, having set aside $5.55 million during the process. Both appeals are expected to extend over several years.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, overseeing both trials, emphasized that the earlier verdict applied to the second trial, where jurors determined the extent of Trump's financial responsibility.
'WE WON'T BE DISCOURAGED’
Alina Habba, who spearheaded Trump's defense in Carroll's case, framed Friday's verdict in political terms and confidently predicted that Trump's appeal would prevail.
Habba, addressing reporters, connected President Trump's standing in the polls with the outcome, stating, "President Trump is leading in the polls, and now we see what you get in New York. It will not deter us; we will keep fighting, and I assure you we didn't win today, but we will win."
On Friday, Trump abruptly left the courtroom during the closing argument by Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan (unrelated to the judge), but returned for Habba's closing statement.
Throughout his legal challenges, Trump has portrayed himself as a victim of politically motivated falsehoods and an impartial, unrestrained judicial system.
Facing 91 felony counts in four criminal indictments, including allegations of attempting to illegally overturn the 2020 election, Trump maintains his plea of not guilty. He also awaits a forthcoming decision from a New York judge on potential penalties in the $370 million civil fraud lawsuit brought by state Attorney General Letitia James against him and the Trump Organization.
During the Carroll trial, Trump was overheard dismissing the case as a "con job" and "witch hunt," expressing ignorance about Carroll, leading the judge to caution him twice to remain silent.
'CLOSING STATEMENTS'
In her closing argument, Carroll's lawyer Kaplan asserted that Trump treated her client as if he were above the law and should face substantial consequences.
Habba countered, attributing the attacks to the publication of excerpts from Carroll's memoir in New York magazine, which preceded Trump's denials by five hours. She also contended that Carroll embraced her newfound fame and that coming forward had left her "happier than ever."
Trump testified briefly on Thursday, spending only four minutes on the witness stand as the judge prohibited revisiting settled issues from the first trial. Trump stood by his October 2022 deposition testimony, referring to Carroll's claims as a "hoax" and characterizing her as "mentally sick." Carroll wrote the "Ask E. Jean" column for Elle from 1993 to 2019 and claimed that her appearances on shows like NBC's "Today" and ABC's "Good Morning America" dwindled due to Trump.
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