A federal appeals court has dealt another blow to Donald Trump, upholding the $5 million civil verdict against him for sexual abuse and defamation involving writer E. Jean Carroll. This decision came as Trump prepares to retake office, adding more complications to his legal battles.
The ruling, delivered by the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday, confirmed the jury's finding from earlier this year, which concluded Trump sexually abused Carroll at the Bergdorf Goodman department store during the mid-1990s. It also concluded he defamed her following her allegations. The three-judge panel stated, "Trump has not demonstrated the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings" and "has not carried his burden to show any claimed error affected his substantial rights as required to warrant a new trial." This ruling came less than four weeks before Trump is expected to resume his presidency.
Carroll, who is best known for her long-running advice column for Elle magazine, first accused Trump of sexual assault in article published by New York magazine, alleging the incident occurred between late 1995 and early 1996. Carroll's claims led to legal action under the Adult Survivors Act, which permitted her to file suit after the typical statute of limitations had elapsed.
The appeal rejected by the court was part of Trump's continued resistance to the jury's findings. His legal team had argued the trial court improperly admitted inflammatory evidence, including the controversial 2005 Access Hollywood tape where Trump stated, "When you’re a star, you can do anything," insinuations about his past behavior with women. The appellate judges ruled the tape was admissible as it helped establish a pattern of alleged misconduct.
Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, "Both E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today’s decision. We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties’ arguments." This sentiment exemplifies the emotional stakes of the case for Carroll, who has faced scrutiny and backlash since going public with her accusations.
Trump's team, on the other hand, vowed to continue appealing the court's decisions, labeling the proceedings as politically motivated. Steven Cheung, Trump's spokesperson, claimed the ruling persists in the "political weaponization" of the justice system, reiteratively declaring, "The American People have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate, and they demand... dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax." This narrative reflects the broader theme of Trump's defense strategy, which attempts to paint the legal challenges as politically charged rather than merited by the evidence.
This verdict adds another dimension to Trump’s legal troubles. A separate jury had already ordered Trump to pay Carroll over $83 million for defamatory statements made after her initial accusations. The timing of this latest ruling, just prior to Trump’s resumption of presidential duties, fuels speculation about the impact his legal issues will have on his political future.
The complexity of the case is highlighted by the myriad of issues at play, including claims from other women who have accused Trump of similar misdeeds. Two women, Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, were allowed to testify during the trial about their experiences, which Trump’s lawyers argued unjustly influenced the jury’s decision. The court, though, appeared to find merit in these testimonies, which sought to establish a pattern of behavior and helped paint the full picture of Trump’s history with women.
Despite the legal outcomes, Trump has made continued efforts to undermine Carroll’s character, recently claiming she fabricated her allegations and sidestepping direct accountability. During public addresses and social media interactions, Trump has resorted to belittling remarks about Carroll, insisting he has no recollection of her whatsoever.
Overall, the court ruling signifies not just the legal consequences of Trump’s past actions but also the broader societal implication of holding powerful figures accountable for misconduct. The Carroll case has rippled through the political sphere, impacting how survivors of sexual assault are heard and validated.
The ruling itself also raises questions about the future legal challenges Trump may face and how he will navigate them as he returns to the political forefront. Will the legal ramifications continue to follow him, or can he effectively dismiss these allegations as he has attempted to do? Both Trump and Carroll undoubtedly await what the next chapter will hold, as this saga, rooted deeply within the societal discourse around power dynamics and sexual misconduct, remains far from over.