Donald Trump Loses Appeal, Still Owes E. Jean Carroll $5 Million

President-elect Donald Trump lost an appeal on Monday of the $5 million verdict that E. Jean Carroll won. A jury found last year that he was liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her when the allegations became public. 

Carroll, a former magazine columnist, alleged that Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in 1996. The trial also involved a 2022 Truth Social post where Trump called the allegations a hoax. 

In the federal court verdict from a three judge panel, jurors found that Trump did not commit rape, but found him guilty of sexual abuse and defamation. They awarded Carroll $2.02 million for sexual assault and $2.98 million in damages for defamation.

In January, a different jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83 million for defamation and reputational damage. He is appealing that verdict as well. In his denials, he said Carroll is “not my type.” He also said she made up the claim to promote her memoir.

The verdicts in Carroll’s favor represent the first time that Trump has ever faced real consequences for his misogyny and alleged sexual violence. More than two dozen women have accused him of sexual assault. He has denied all allegations. 

“I filed this lawsuit against Donald Trump to clear my name and to get my life back,” Carroll said in a statement at the time of the $5 million verdict. “Today, the world finally knows the truth. This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.”

Trump’s lawyers argued in their appeal that the $5 million verdict should be thrown out because the judge permitted testimony from two other women who accused Trump of sexual misconduct during the trial. They also said he should not have allowed jurors to view the 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape where Trump bragged about groping women. 

“We conclude that Mr. Trump has not demonstrated that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings. Further, he has not carried his burden to show that any claimed error or combination of claimed errors affected his substantial rights as required to warrant a new trial,” the ruling said. 

Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, said in a statement, “The American People have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax, which will continue to be appealed.”