Donald Trump Fights Back: Appeals $5M Verdict in Explosive E. Jean Carroll Case

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  • Source: Wayne Dupree
  • 01/14/2025
President-elect Donald Trump has sought a new review by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the jury’s decision that held him accountable for sexual abuse and defamation directed at writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump's legal team is pushing for an en banc hearing, which would involve the entire bench, as opposed to the three-judge panel that confirmed the $5 million verdict against him last month. The appeal highlights what Trump's attorneys describe as "long-standing, inherently dubious allegations driven by political motives" presented by Ms. Carroll.

Trump's defense argues that Carroll's accusations, surfacing over two decades later and coinciding with a politically sensitive period, were aimed at damaging his reputation while benefiting herself financially and emotionally. They assert that her account mirrors a storyline from one of her favored television series, challenging the credibility of her claims.

In 2023, a New York jury found in favor of Carroll, ordering Trump to pay $5 million for acts of sexual misconduct occurring in a department store dressing room during the 1990s and for subsequent defamatory remarks made by him denying these claims. Additionally, in January 2024, Carroll was awarded $83.3 million in further damages due to more recent defamatory statements made by Trump.

Central to Trump’s appeal is the contention that the trial judge improperly permitted testimony from two other women claiming to have been sexually assaulted by Trump and allowed jurors to hear the notorious “Access Hollywood” tape where Trump is heard boasting about assaulting women due to his celebrity status.

Trump’s lawyers argue that such evidence unfairly bolstered Carroll’s allegations which they deem unfounded and speculative. They warn this precedent could lead to future cases being unjustly influenced by prejudicial evidence rather than being decided on lawful grounds and factual evidence.

This case continues to draw public attention due to its high-profile nature and its implications on legal precedents concerning evidence admissibility in trials involving accusations of sexual assault and defamation. Comments on how this appeal might affect not only the outcome of this particular case but also future cases involving similar allegations are welcome.
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