Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay $5 million in sexual assault case
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Loading... - Patricia Ekai
- 10 May 2023
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Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay $5 million in damages as a result of a sexual assault and defamation case. The verdict was delivered by a panel of nine jurors who unanimously upheld various complaints made by E. Jean Carroll in this closely watched civil trial. While the accusation of rape was rejected, the jurors found Trump liable for other charges. The decision represents the first legal consequence Trump has faced regarding a series of sexual assault allegations that span several decades. However, he immediately dismissed the verdict as a "disgrace."
Carroll, who is 79 years old, filed a lawsuit against Trump last year, alleging that he raped her in the changing room of the luxury Bergdorf Goodman store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue in 1996. Additionally, she claimed that Trump defamed her by referring to her as "a complete con job" after she publicly shared the allegation in 2019. Trump, who is currently 76 years old and a frontrunner for the Republican nomination in the upcoming presidential election, has consistently labeled her case as a "hoax" and "a lie."
The jury concluded that Carroll had provided sufficient evidence to prove sexual abuse, which entails non-consensual sexual contact, and awarded her $2 million in damages. Furthermore, they determined that Trump should pay an additional $3 million for defamation. Following the announcement of the verdict, Carroll left the Manhattan federal court with a smile but refrained from speaking to the press. Her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, expressed satisfaction, stating, "We're very happy."
Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to criticize the outcome. In an all-caps message, he wrote, "I have absolutely no idea who this woman is. This verdict is a disgrace – a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time." His 2024 campaign team released a statement asserting that the case was a politically motivated effort to hinder Trump's pursuit of the White House, and they plan to appeal the decision.
During the two-week-long civil trial, Carroll testified that the assault had left her feeling "ashamed" and unable to form romantic relationships. Her legal team called two additional women as witnesses who testified that Trump had sexually assaulted them decades ago. Jessica Leeds, a former businesswoman, claimed that Trump had groped her in the business class section of a U.S. flight in the 1970s. Journalist Natasha Stoynoff stated that Trump had kissed her without consent during an interview at his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2005.
Prior to the 2016 election, around a dozen women had accused Trump of sexual misconduct, but he has consistently denied all the allegations and has not faced any criminal charges related to them. Carroll's lawsuit cannot lead to a criminal case against him either. Throughout the trial, Trump did not testify, and his defense team did not call any witnesses. Instead, a video deposition from October was played for the jury, in which Trump referred to Carroll as "a liar" and a "really sick person." His lawyers argued that Carroll had fabricated the accusation for financial gain, political motives, and social status.
Carroll filed her lawsuit under a New York law that allows victims of sexual assault a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers, even decades after the incidents occurred. The burden of proof in civil proceedings is lower than in criminal trials, where prosecutors must prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case adds to the various legal challenges that may complicate Trump's campaign to regain the presidency. Last month, he pleaded not guilty to criminal charges related to a hush-money payment made to a porn star shortly before the 2016 election, allegedly to conceal an affair. Trump is also under investigation for his actions to overturn the 2020 election results in the state of Georgia, his alleged mishandling of classified documents from the White House, and his alleged involvement in the storming of the U.S. Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021.
In light of these legal battles, Trump's supporters have generally remained loyal to him. However, the recent verdict in the sexual assault and defamation case marks a significant development that could impact his political aspirations. Nevertheless, Trump's 2024 campaign team maintains that the case is a political maneuver designed to derail his bid for the White House, and they are determined to appeal the decision.
The outcome of the trial has provided a sense of vindication for Carroll, who endured over two decades of silence before speaking out. She expressed her relief and happiness after the verdict was announced. Carroll's testimony, supported by the accounts of other women who claimed to be victims of Trump's sexual misconduct, shed light on a pattern of behavior that had been brought to public attention prior to the 2016 election.
As the legal battles continue, Trump's reputation remains a subject of intense scrutiny. The charges against him have raised questions about accountability for those in positions of power and have ignited broader discussions about the treatment of sexual assault survivors. The outcome of this case is likely to reverberate beyond the courtroom, shaping public opinion and influencing future conversations on the subject.
