A federal appeals court on Monday reaffirmed a major legal victory for E. Jean Carroll, upholding the $5 million verdict she won against Donald Trump. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected Trump’s appeal, affirming a jury’s decision that found him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming Carroll.
In a unanimous ruling, a three-judge panel dismissed Trump’s argument that the trial judge erred by allowing jurors to hear evidence of his past alleged sexual misconduct. The court pointed to the Access Hollywood video, in which Trump bragged about his sexual exploits, as critical evidence. The panel stated that the evidence presented, including testimony from other women who accused Trump of similar misconduct, demonstrated a “repeated, idiosyncratic pattern” that was consistent with Carroll’s allegations.
The court noted that, despite the challenges raised, the strength of Carroll’s case remained intact. “Taking the record as a whole,” the panel stated, “we are not persuaded that any claimed errors affected Mr. Trump’s substantial rights.”
The case stems from an incident in 1996, when Carroll, a former magazine columnist, alleged that Trump sexually assaulted her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan. Trump later defamed Carroll by calling her allegations a “hoax” in a 2022 social media post. Though the jury did not find that Trump raped Carroll, it awarded her $2.02 million for the sexual assault and $2.98 million for defamation.
In a separate lawsuit, Trump was ordered to pay Carroll $83.3 million for defaming her in 2019 after he denied the rape allegations, calling Carroll a liar and claiming he didn’t know her. Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, has repeatedly dismissed these cases, referring to them as part of a “witch hunt” and promising to continue appealing.
Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney, expressed satisfaction with the appeals court’s ruling. “E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today’s decision,” she said in a statement. The cases involving Carroll are ongoing, despite Trump’s continued denial and his political aspirations.
The decision underscores the ongoing legal challenges for Trump, even as he seeks a second term as president. The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in 1997 made clear that sitting presidents are not immune from civil litigation over actions unrelated to their official duties, a precedent that could impact the outcomes of future legal battles.
The court also rejected Trump’s argument that evidence regarding funding from political critics should be admitted, further solidifying the case against him.
In addition to Carroll’s testimony, the court considered the testimonies of other women who accused Trump of similar misconduct, including Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, as well as the infamous Access Hollywood tape. The appeals court concluded that these pieces of evidence were directly relevant to the case, as they showed a pattern of behavior corroborating Carroll’s allegations.
Trump’s legal team had argued that the inclusion of this evidence unfairly influenced the jury’s decision. However, the court found that it was necessary to present a fuller picture of Trump’s conduct to assess the credibility of Carroll’s claims.
It remains unclear whether Trump will take this case to the U.S. Supreme Court. His spokesperson has vowed to continue appealing, calling the legal proceedings politically motivated.
Despite these legal setbacks, Carroll remains committed to her pursuit of justice. Her attorneys have made it clear that they will continue to fight for the damages she is owed, and Carroll herself has expressed confidence in the legal process.
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