(Crankers) A federal appeals court delivered a major loss to President Donald Trump, upholding an $83.3 million defamation judgment against him in the E. Jean Carroll case. The court found the jury’s damages award “fair and reasonable” given the “extraordinary and egregious” facts of the case.
The case stems from Carroll’s 2019 public allegation that Trump sexually assaulted her decades earlier. Trump responded with defamatory statements, which led to the lawsuit.
Carroll previously won a separate $5 million judgment in 2023 for sexual abuse and defamation, also upheld by the same appeals court. Trump’s legal team argued presidential immunity and excessive damages; the appeals court rejected all claims.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, praised the ruling, saying it affirmed Carroll’s truthfulness and highlighted Trump’s “reckless indifference.”
Trump’s spokesperson condemned the ruling as politically motivated, calling it a “Democrat-funded travesty.”
The 2024 trial focused on additional defamatory remarks by Trump, with evidence of reputational and personal harm to Carroll. The court noted Trump’s disruptive behavior during proceedings, including gestures and comments in front of the jury.