A federal appeals court on Thursday confirmed the $5 million civil award awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll in her case against Donald Trump.
This legal victory for the writer comes after a jury already determined that Trump was liable for sexually assaulting Carroll in the 1990s and then defaming her when she publicly disclosed the incident.
Trump has consistently denied the accusations and challenged the verdict, calling it “grossly excessive” and accusing the presiding judge of bias.
However, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected these claims.
The court’s decision stated, “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.”
Carroll’s lawsuit detailed allegations of sexual assault in a Manhattan department store in 1996 and subsequent defamation when Trump dismissed her claims as a “hoax” and “con job.”
Trump’s defense team argued that the trial was unfair, criticizing the inclusion of testimony from two other women—Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff—who described similar experiences with Trump.
Court affirms Trump’s liability, setting a strong precedent for defamation and abuse claims
They also objected to the jury being shown the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape, in which Trump made controversial remarks about women.
Despite these objections, the appeals court ruled that the evidence was admissible, as it helped establish a pattern of conduct and corroborated Carroll’s account.
The judges found no abuse of discretion by the trial court in allowing this evidence.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, praised the ruling, saying, “We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties’ arguments.”
Carroll herself shared her satisfaction with the outcome on social media, expressing gratitude for the support.
In addition to this case, Trump is appealing an $83 million defamation judgment awarded to Carroll in a separate lawsuit related to statements he made while serving as president. That appeal is still pending.
These decisions highlight the importance of accountability in high-profile cases, sending a strong message about the consequences of defamation and sexual misconduct.
