Jury finds Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in E. Jean Carroll case

A jury Tuesday found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll, awarding the writer a total of about $5 million in a significant defeat for the former president.  

The jury awarded Carroll about $2 million in damages for her civil battery claim and nearly $3 million for successfully proving her defamation claim against Trump.

Carroll sued Trump for battery, alleging his conduct qualified as a sexual offense because it was rape, sexual abuse or forcible touching. While the jury did not find that she had proven rape, they did find she proved Trump committed sexual abuse, allowing her to receive damages for her battery claim. 

Under New York Adult Survivors Act, passed in May 2022, survivors of sexual offenses are able to file a civil lawsuit against a perpetrator for damages even if the statutory window of time to bring a claim has expired, as long as they can also show the offense qualifies as a sex crime under the law. 

After the verdict was read, Carroll exited the courthouse smiling and holding hands with her attorneys. She made no comment to the media who shouted questions in her direction.

Her attorney Roberta Kaplan spoke briefly, saying: “We’re very happy.”

A jury in Manhattan federal court found Donald Trump liable for defamation in a civil lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.  

Trump should pay nearly $3 million in damages to Carroll for successfully proving her defamation claim against him, the jury found. 

It also found that Trump should pay about $2 million in damages for her civil battery claim, bringing the total to $5 million.

A jury in Manhattan federal court found that Donald Trump should pay about $2 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll for her civil battery claim. 

Trump may have to pay more in damages if the jury finds that he also defamed Carroll. Defamation is the second claim in Carroll’s lawsuit against Trump.  

The verdict continues to be read in court. 

A Manhattan federal jury found that Donald Trump sexually abused E. Jean Carroll in a luxury department store dressing room in the spring of 1996.

The jury found him liable for battery in Carroll’s civil trial against him, based on that sexual assault claim.

Carroll also sued Trump for defamation related to a 2022 statement he made denying Carroll’s allegations.

The verdict, including any damages, continues to be read in court.

A federal jury in Manhattan has reached a verdict in the civil battery and defamation trial of Donald Trump brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. 

The jury of six men and three women deliberated for just over two and a half hours.

The verdict is expected to be read at 3 p.m. ET.

Plaintiff attorney Roberta Kaplan brought former President Donald Trump’s latest TruthSocial post to Judge Lewis Kaplan’s attention and asked if the jury does not reach a verdict by the end of the day, that he instruct them that Trump had every opportunity to testify and present a defense.  

Trump attorney Joe Tacopina said the post does not require a jury instruction and that he had posts made by Donald and Eric Trump earlier in the trial deleted.

The judge sided with Tacopina and said he would not instruct the jury.

“We’re dealing here with what we’re dealing with…and I have no further comment,” Judge Kaplan said.

The parties left the courtroom for a lunch break until about 1:45 when they are expected to return to the courtroom.

Columnist E. Jean Carroll testified for more than two full trial days during her case, recounting her story, how life has been since going public with her accusations and undergoing several hours of cross examination.

Two friends that Carroll testified she told soon after the alleged rape testified about their recollection of Carroll’s account in 1996. Journalist Lisa Birnbach testified to corroborate Carroll’s story that she called her minutes after she left the department store after she was allegedly raped.

Former local New York anchor Carol Martin also testified that Carroll, who had a show at the same cable news network at the time, also confided in her within days after the alleged incident. Birnbach and Martin, who were not initially named in Carroll’s book, publicly came forward in support of their friend soon after Carroll published her account in New York magazine.

Trump’s legal team has accused the two of conspiring with Carroll to fabricate this story to bring down Trump. All three have spoken publicly and in private messages shown to the jury about their hatred for the former president.

Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who allege Trump physically forced himself on them, also testified about their alleged altercations.

At closing Carroll’s attorney argued that allegations from Carroll, Leeds and Stoynoff reveal a pattern of Trump’s aggressive behavior.

In each woman’s testimony, they described how Trump first engaged them in a semipublic place, then allegedly grabbed them suddenly, then later denied the allegations and said “she is too ugly for anyone to assault,” attorney Roberta Kaplan said.

“Three different women, decades apart, but one single pattern of behavior. What happened to Ms. Carroll is not unique in that respect. Trump’s physical attacks and verbal attacks are his standard operational procedure,” Kaplan said.

Trump has denied Leeds’ and Stoynoff’s allegations against him. Trump attorney Joe Tacopina told the jurors Monday that their testimony was a distraction at trial because their claims are not before this jury and don’t affect Carroll’s allegations.

Tacopina in his closing argument Monday also accused Carroll of fabricating her rape allegations to sell her book.