Trump Faces Affirmed Sexual Misconduct Conviction by Federal Appeals Court
In a landmark decision, 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 a former newspaper columnist, E. Jean Carroll. The court's ruling marks one of the most high-profile sexual misconduct and defamation cases against a former U.S. president.
Carroll, a writer and former Elle magazine advice columnist, accused Donald Trump of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. She publicly made these allegations in 2019 during Trump's presidency. Trump denied the accusations and called Carroll a liar, claiming her allegations were politically motivated and aimed at boosting sales of her book.
Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump in November 2019 after he publicly denied the rape claim and disparaged her. She also filed a second lawsuit in November 2022 under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which allows sexual-assault victims to sue beyond expired statutes of limitations; this suit included claims of battery and defamation.
In the 2023 civil trial held in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation but not liable for rape. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages. A later partial summary judgment in September 2023 held Trump liable for defamation related to his 2019 statements, and an additional trial in January 2024 awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages. Trump’s countersuit against Carroll was dismissed, with the judge ruling that Carroll's accusation of rape was "substantially true."
Regarding the "Access Hollywood" tape, while it is a well-known video of Trump making lewd comments about women that surfaced in 2016, it is not a direct part of the Carroll case itself. However, the tape is often cited in public discourse as context illustrating Trump’s attitudes toward women, which shaped public perceptions of his credibility and behavior amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations, including Carroll’s. The specific legal proceedings focus on Carroll’s personal allegations and Trump’s public rebuttals rather than the tape.
Trump has repeatedly denied any and all knowledge of the incident and has also denied ever meeting Carroll. Carroll testified that Trump had turned a "friendly" encounter in a New York City department store into a violent attack, which allegedly occurred inside of a dressing room in 1995.
The court's ruling indicates that the acts are sufficiently similar to show a pattern. The appeals court did not find any errors in the trial rulings that warranted a new trial. In its decision, the appeals panel noted that this controversial evidence was likely relevant to the trial.
Roberta Kaplan, the attorney representing Carroll, thanked the Second Circuit for their careful consideration of the case. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the $5 million award granted to E. Jean Carroll in the sexual abuse case.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the victory secured by Carroll against Trump has set a significant precedent, demonstrating the validity of accusing public figures and the potential consequences of defamation.
- This high-profile case involving E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump, categorized under crime-and-justice and general-news, has elevated the discussion on politics, particularly the impact of personal allegations and their politically motivated implications on public discourse.
