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A federal appeals court upheld an 83.3 million dollar verdict against Donald Trump for defaming E. Jean Carroll, rejecting his immunity claim.
US President Donald Trump; E. Jean Carroll (Image: Reuters)
A federal appeals court on Monday upheld an $83.3 million jury verdict against US President Donald Trump for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll when he denied her rape allegation in 2019.
The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected Trump’s claim that he was entitled to presidential immunity from Carroll’s lawsuit. This follows a June ruling by the same court that upheld a separate $5 million verdict against Trump for sexual abuse and defamation, though the jury did not find him liable for rape.
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Both verdicts stem from legal battles Trump has faced since leaving office in 2021. Meanwhile, he denies any wrongdoing and has called the cases politically motivated efforts to damage his 2024 presidential campaign. Trump, now in his second term, continues to appeal several legal rulings, including a criminal conviction for falsifying business records and a civil fraud judgment against his family business.
The appeals court described the $83.3 million award—comprising $18.3 million for emotional and reputational damages and $65 million in punitive damages—as justified given the “extraordinary and egregious facts” of the case. The judges noted Trump’s attacks on Carroll intensified as the trial approached, demonstrating malice and deceit over several years.
The appeals court described the $83.3 million award—comprising $18.3 million for emotional and reputational damages and $65 million in punitive damages—as justified given the “extraordinary and egregious facts” of the case. The judges noted Trump’s attacks on Carroll intensified as the trial approached, demonstrating malice and deceit over several years.
In a statement on Monday, Trump’s legal team said, “President Trump will keep winning against Liberal Lawfare, as he is focusing on his mission to Make America Great Again.”
Carroll, 81, a former Elle magazine columnist, accused Trump of assaulting her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump initially denied the claim in 2019, dismissing Carroll as “not my type” and accusing her of fabricating the story to promote her memoir.
In his latest appeal, Trump argued that a recent Supreme Court ruling granting him broad criminal immunity should protect him from civil liability. He also claimed that comments made about Carroll were part of his official duties as president and challenged decisions made by the trial judge.
Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, expressed hope for a swift end to the appeals process so “justice will finally be done.” Carroll recently published a new memoir detailing her legal fight against Trump.
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
New York, United States of America (USA)
September 08, 2025, 23:33 IST
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