Trump Loses Appeal of $5M Carroll Verdict
The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Monday upheld a $5M civil verdict that found Pres.-elect Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll in a Manhattan department store during the mid-1990s.
Facts
- The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Monday upheld a $5M civil verdict that found Pres.-elect Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll in a Manhattan department store during the mid-1990s.[1][2]
- The original May 2023 jury verdict awarded Carroll, a former Elle Magazine advice columnist, $2.02M for sexual assault and $2.98M for defamation related to Trump's October 2022 Truth Social post denying her claims.[3]
- The three-judge panel, all of whom were appointed by either former Pres. Barack Obama or Pres. Joe Biden, rejected Trump's arguments that the district court made errors in its evidentiary rulings.[4][5]
- Against Trump's appeal request, the court upheld the admission of testimony from two other women — Jessica Leeds, who alleged being groped on an airplane in the 1970s; and Natasha Stoynoff, who claimed Trump kissed her against her will at Mar-a-Lago in 2005.[1][3]
- The court also ruled that the 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape was properly admitted as evidence. The court said it showed "a pattern of abrupt, nonconsensual, and physical advances on women he barely knew."[1][6]
- This verdict is separate from an $83.3M defamation judgment against Trump regarding different statements about Carroll, which Trump is also appealing. A Trump spokesman said they will continue to appeal, which could mean all the way to the US Supreme Court.[1][3][4]
Sources: [1]The Hill, [2]Newsweek, [3]Newsmax, [4]Forbes, [5]The Epoch Times and [6]USA Today.
Narratives
- Anti-Trump narrative, as provided by The New Republic and Huffington Post. This is a win for all victims of sexual violence. All the relevant evidence proved Trump's long history of exploiting women. Individuals like Carroll, and justice-seeking courts like the Second Circuit, should continue fighting for powerless victims despite Trump's reelection to the presidency.
- Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Townhall and PJ Media. There wasn't nearly enough evidence against Trump in this case, but because of a new law — which is suspiciously tailored to target Trump — this appeal was rejected. This court is just participating in the political witch hunt that's lasted more than a decade against the president-elect.
