E.Jean Carroll: A jury in New York has determined that Donald Trump must pay $83.3m (£65m) as a result of defaming columnist E Jean Carroll in 2019 during his tenure as US president.
This penalty, which was decided in a civil trial, consists of $18.3m for compensatory damages and $65m for punitive damages.
In a previous civil case, Mr. Trump was found guilty of defaming Ms. Carroll and sexually assaulting her in the 1990s.
Despite the verdict, Mr. Trump has expressed his intention to appeal, dismissing the case as a witch hunt and describing the ruling as “absolutely ridiculous.”
During the recent trial, the jury’s sole responsibility was to determine the amount of compensation, if any, that should be awarded to Ms. Carroll.
The compensatory damages were intended to address the harm inflicted upon Ms. Carroll’s reputation and emotional well-being as determined by the jury.
Trump faces a double-edged sword with the defeat of defamation.
The panel’s decision also included a punitive penalty aimed at silencing Trump’s ongoing criticism of her.
In less than three hours, the jury consisting of seven men and two women reached a verdict on Friday afternoon.
As the potential Republican candidate for the upcoming presidential election in November, Trump is also confronted with four criminal cases, encompassing a total of 91 felony counts.
Being the first president in US history to face criminal charges, Trump has maintained his plea of not guilty and denied all allegations.
In a statement released after the jury’s decision on Friday, Ms Carroll expressed that this victory is significant for every woman who refuses to stay down after being knocked down, while also serving as a major blow to bullies who attempt to suppress women. Her attorney, Robbie Kaplan, also emphasized the importance of the verdict, stating that it demonstrates the application of the law to all individuals in our country, regardless of wealth, fame, or even former presidential status.
Despite repeatedly denying any wrongdoing and even claiming to have never met Ms Carroll, including on Friday morning, Mr Trump refrained from directly attacking her following the verdict. Instead, he criticized the outcome of the case on his social media platform, Truth Social, without directly targeting her. In his post, he expressed complete disagreement with both verdicts and announced his intention to appeal, referring to the entire situation as a Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on him and the Republican Party.
Mr Trump further criticized the state of the legal system, claiming that it is out of control and being utilized as a political weapon. He asserted that the removal of First Amendment rights has occurred, concluding with a statement that this is not representative of America.
In a civil trial held last year, it was determined that Mr. Trump had sexually assaulted Ms. Carroll, a magazine columnist, in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman department store during the 1990s. The jury also found him guilty of defamation for dismissing her allegations as false, resulting in a court order for him to pay approximately $5 million in damages.
The recent case, which concluded on Friday, focused on different defamatory remarks made by Mr. Trump in 2019. However, Mr. Trump was not present in court to hear the verdict as he abruptly left earlier in the day accompanied by his Secret Service security detail.
This departure occurred shortly after Judge Kaplan warned Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, that she could face imprisonment for disregarding his instruction to remain silent. “You are on the brink of being incarcerated. Now, please sit down,” the judge firmly stated to Ms. Habba.
Alina Habba, the trial lawyer representing Donald Trump
She faced a stern warning from the judge during the proceedings. The judge threatened to remove Mr. Trump from the courtroom after he made derogatory remarks about the case, referring to it as a “con job” and a “witch hunt.” Prior to announcing the verdict, the judge emphasized the need for decorum, stating that there should be no outbursts.
During the closing arguments on Friday, Ms. Carroll’s lawyer argued that her client’s reputation had been severely damaged by Mr. Trump’s denial of the sexual assault allegations. The lawyer asserted that this case was not only about seeking justice for Ms. Carroll but also about holding Donald Trump accountable and putting an end to his behavior once and for all.
Ms. Carroll’s legal team had previously informed the court that Mr. Trump’s statements had resulted in a barrage of death threats, rape threats, and online abuse directed towards their client.
In response, Mr. Trump’s lawyer contended that no further damages should be awarded to Ms. Carroll, claiming that her claims were riddled with inconsistencies.
Alina Habba, representing Mr. Trump, maintained that her client should not be held responsible for the threats received by Ms. Carroll.
During the trial, Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is not related to the plaintiff’s lawyer, advised the jurors to use pseudonyms when referring to each other due to the sensitive nature of the case. At the conclusion of the trial, he informed the jurors that they were free to discuss their experience but suggested that they refrain from disclosing their involvement in the case.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly alleged that the legal cases against him are politically motivated and orchestrated by allies of President Joe Biden, a Democrat. As the leading contender for the Republican party’s nomination in the 2024 general election, Mr. Trump appears poised for a potential rematch against President Biden.
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