Donald Trump faced a significant legal setback as he was hit with a staggering $83 million verdict for repeatedly defaming advice columnist E. Jean Carroll.
This decision comes just hours after Trump left the courtroom in the midst of a trial where he stormed out during closing statements. The jury's decision, announced on Friday, ordered Trump to pay $65 million as punitive damages, $1 million to assist Carroll in rebuilding her reputation, and an additional $7.3 million as compensation for her pain and suffering.
The defamation case revolves around Carroll's previous accusations of sexual assault against Trump inside a department store fitting room, which a jury found to be credible in May of the previous year. Despite the prior verdict, Trump has continued to deny the allegations and vowed to appeal the recent decision, deeming it "absolutely ridiculous." Carroll, on the other hand, celebrated the verdict as a victory for women standing up against bullying.
The jury, consisting of five men and four women, delivered the comprehensive decision after just under three hours of deliberation. The breakdown of the damages aimed to punish Trump for acting out of hatred, ill will, or spite, and to compensate Carroll for the harm she endured after receiving death threats following Trump's public rebukes.
Notably, Trump, who was present for closing statements earlier on Friday, left the courthouse before the verdict was read. His post on a social media platform decried the verdict as part of a "witch hunt" directed by the Biden administration against him and the Republican Party. Trump's legal team echoed his sentiments, criticizing the verdict as an attack on the justice system.
The trial, which spanned five days, featured testimony from Trump himself, who spoke for less than three minutes, adhering to a judge's order to limit his comments. The proceedings were marked by outbursts from Trump, including storming out during Carroll's lawyer's closing statement. The trial also revealed Trump's running commentary to his team, raising concerns about his behavior in the courtroom.
Carroll, in her testimony, emphasized the impact of Trump's statements on her reputation as a respected journalist. She expressed that she was now known as a "liar, fraud, and a whack job." The jury's decision sends a message that the law applies to everyone, including the rich, famous, and former presidents, according to Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan.
Trump's continuous commentary on social media throughout the trial, where he maintained his version of the truth, underscores the ongoing contentious nature of the legal battle. Despite being cleared of a rape claim in a civil case, the judge acknowledged that Carroll's claim of rape is substantially true in the context of contemporary perceptions of sexual assault. The $83 million verdict stands as a significant development in the legal battles surrounding Trump's conduct and the #MeToo movement.
