Background on E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump
E. Jean Carroll, an 81-year-old writer and author, accused former President Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in 1996. In 2019, she publicly shared these allegations, claiming Trump had denied knowing her and stated she wasn’t his “type.”
Legal Proceedings and Rulings
Carroll filed a civil lawsuit against Trump for defamation, seeking $10 million in damages. In a separate federal civil case in New York, a jury found Trump responsible for sexually assaulting Carroll in 1996 and later defaming her in 2022 by calling her “a complete fraud.”
Court of Appeals Decision
A U.S. Court of Appeals confirmed an $83.3 million fine imposed by a jury against Donald Trump for defaming E. Jean Carroll, whom the court determined had sexually assaulted her.
“We conclude that the district court did not err in any of its challenged rulings and that the jury awarded damages were reasonable given the extraordinary and egregious facts of this case,” wrote the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Details of the Fine
The January 2024 order included $65 million in punitive damages after the jury determined Trump acted maliciously in his numerous public comments about Carroll. Additionally, $7.3 million was awarded for compensatory damages and $11 million to fund an online campaign to repair Carroll’s reputation.
Trump’s Public Statements and Reactions
Trump, found responsible for sexually assaulting Carroll in a separate federal civil case in New York, used his Truth Social platform to publish a series of insulting messages targeting Carroll, the lawsuit, and the judge, calling him “an extremely abusive person.”
During a 2022 statement, Trump confused Carroll’s photo with his ex-wife Marla Maples, which threatened to undermine his claim that Carroll wasn’t his “type.”
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is E. Jean Carroll? An 81-year-old writer and author who accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in 1996.
- What was the nature of Trump’s public comments about Carroll? Trump made numerous public statements denying the assault allegations and claiming Carroll wasn’t his “type.” He also insulted her, the lawsuit, and the judge on his Truth Social platform.
- What was the outcome of the defamation lawsuit? A U.S. Court of Appeals confirmed an $83.3 million fine against Trump for defaming Carroll, with the damages consisting of $65 million in punitive damages, $7.3 million in compensatory damages, and $11 million for an online reputation repair campaign.
