Court of Federal Appeals Affirms Sexual Misconduct Judgment Against Trump
In a significant legal victory, E. Jean Carroll, a former newspaper columnist, has secured a landmark civil judgement against former President Donald Trump. The case, which revolves around allegations of sexual abuse and defamation, has been a topic of intense interest since its inception.
Carroll accused Trump of raping her in the mid-1990s and subsequently defaming her by denying the allegations. The legal battle began in earnest in April 2023, with the trial taking place in federal court in Manhattan.
The first trial, concluded in May 2023, resulted in a historic verdict. Trump was found liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her, although he was not found guilty of rape. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
In September 2023, a partial summary judgment found Trump liable for defaming Carroll through his 2019 statements. A subsequent trial in January 2024 added an additional $83.3 million in damages to Carroll's award.
Trump, however, did not let the verdicts rest. He filed a countersuit, but it was dismissed by the judge. The judge also noted that Carroll's accusation of "rape" was "substantially true." Trump appealed the rulings, but on December 30, 2024, the $5 million judgment was upheld; a further appeal was rejected by the U.S. Court of Appeals in July 2025.
The Carroll case represents a significant legal defeat for Trump concerning sexual abuse and defamation allegations. The appeals panel noted that controversial evidence, such as the "Access Hollywood" tape, was likely relevant to the trial. This tape, in which Trump bragged about being able to grope women, was used by Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, during the trial.
Kaplan, who was instrumental in both successful lawsuits, expressed her satisfaction with the court's verdict. Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, however, called for an end to the political weaponization of the justice system and the dismissal of all "Witch Hunts," including the Carroll case.
Carroll testified that Trump turned a friendly encounter in a New York City department store into a violent attack in 1995, inside of a dressing room. Trump has repeatedly denied any and all knowledge of the incident and denied ever meeting Carroll.
The court's decision indicates that the acts are sufficiently similar to show a pattern. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a jury's finding that President Donald Trump is liable for the sexual abuse of E. Jean Carroll. The Manhattan jury granted a $5 million award to Carroll, and the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not find any error in the trial rulings that warranted a new trial.
The Carroll case will continue to be appealed, but for now, it stands as a major legal victory against Trump’s attempts to evade accountability.
