Wednesday May 10, 2023
A federal jury in New York reached a landmark verdict on Tuesday, finding former President Donald Trump responsible for sexually abusing and sexually assaulting author E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s and defaming her last year by accused of fabricating the incident. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages as a result of their decision.
The civil trial, held in U.S. District Court in Lower Manhattan, ended in a relatively quick hearing that lasted less than three hours. The jury's decision did not find Trump liable for the rape allegations made by Carroll. However, they found him liable for the sexual assault and defamation charges that had been brought against him.
The nine-judge jury began deliberating the case at 11:50 a.m., following final instructions from Judge Lewis Kaplan and receiving a 10-question verdict. The result marks the culmination of a legal battle between Carroll and Trump, who have sought to dismiss the case.
Carroll, now 79, filed a lawsuit alleging Trump sexually assaulted her in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-1990s. Although the statute of limitations for the alleged rape had expired, Carroll pursued a civil claim for personal injury under a New York state law enacted in late 2022. That law established a one-year time limit for filing sexual assault lawsuits that would otherwise be time-barred. limitation period.
In addition to the assault, Carroll accused Trump of defamation by publicly denying her account of the incident. Trump, 76, has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them a "total fraud" and claiming Carroll was not his "type". Despite leading in early polls for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump has not testified during the process. However, portions of his deposition from last year, conducted by Carroll's attorney, were presented as evidence.
During the trial, Carroll took the witness stand and two women testified that she confided in them about the alleged assault immediately after it occurred. Two other women testified that Trump kissed and groped them without their consent in separate incidents that took place years apart.
The jury's verdict has significant implications, as it holds the former president liable for sexual misconduct and defamation charges. It remains to be seen how this decision will affect future legal actions and public perception of Trump. The case highlights the importance of addressing allegations of sexual assault and ensuring a fair and thorough legal process in the investigation and adjudication of such claims.
