An appeals court has upheld the $5 million judgment against former President Donald Trump in the case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, marking another significant legal defeat for Trump.
On Monday, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Trump, affirming the decision of the lower court.
“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 court stated in its decision, according to a report by NBC News.
The ruling leaves intact the $5 million judgment awarded to Carroll, who accused Trump of defamation and sexual abuse.
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, released a statement criticizing the ruling and reiterating Trump’s claims of political persecution.
“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,” Cheung said.
Trump and his legal team have long maintained that the case is part of a politically motivated effort to undermine his political career.
The case stems from allegations made by E. Jean Carroll in 2019. Carroll, a former advice columnist, accused Trump of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s. Trump has vehemently denied the allegations, calling Carroll a “whack job” and asserting that she is “not my type.”
Despite Trump’s denials, the legal proceedings moved forward. In May 2023, a Manhattan jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages.
The jury notably rejected Carroll’s claim that Trump had raped her but agreed that she had proven he sexually abused her by alleging that he inserted his fingers into her vagina.
During the trial, Trump chose not to testify in his defense, and his legal team did not call any witnesses. This strategy was criticized by some legal analysts as a missed opportunity to counter Carroll’s claims directly.
Trump’s efforts to appeal the verdict have so far been unsuccessful, with Monday’s decision by the appeals court marking another setback.
In addition to the $5 million judgment, Trump faces another significant legal challenge from Carroll. In January 2024, he was ordered to pay $83.3 million in damages in a separate defamation case brought by Carroll.
This second case centers on statements Trump made in 2019, where he denied Carroll’s allegations and made disparaging remarks about her character. Trump’s attempts to assert presidential immunity over these statements were rejected by the courts, allowing the case to proceed.
The ruling adds to Trump’s mounting legal troubles as he seeks to return to the White House in the 2024 election. While Trump and his supporters have dismissed the cases as politically motivated, they have nonetheless become a focal point for both his critics and his political rivals.
The affirmation of the $5 million judgment is a significant victory for Carroll and underscores the broader legal accountability efforts Trump faces across multiple fronts.