Appeals court affirms $5 million judgment in favor of E. Jean Carroll against Trump for sexual abuse and defamation
In a detailed 77-page opinion, the panel stated, “[T]he jury could reasonably infer … that Mr. Trump engaged in similar conduct with other women."
TroibNews 
A federal appeals court has upheld a jury’s $5 million civil verdict against Donald Trump regarding sexual abuse and defamation claims made by writer E. Jean Carroll.
A three-judge panel ruled unanimously on Monday that the trial judge did not violate Trump’s rights by allowing Carroll to present evidence that suggested Trump had committed other sexual assaults. This evidence included statements from Trump on the well-known “Access Hollywood” tape and testimonies from two other women who accused him of sexual assault.
“[T]he jury could reasonably infer … that Mr. Trump engaged in similar conduct with other women — a pattern of abrupt, nonconsensual, and physical advances on women he barely knew,” the panel stated in a 77-page opinion. The judges involved in the ruling were Obama appointees Denny Chin and Susan Carney, along with Biden appointee Myrna Perez.
This ruling represents a notable legal setback for Trump as he prepares for his inauguration next month—an outcome that many anticipated. Trump may choose to appeal the decision to the full bench of the Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals or to the Supreme Court. Aides mentioned that he would pursue an appeal against what spokesman Steven Cheung referred to as the “Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax.”
Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney, praised the “careful” ruling. “E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today’s decision,” Kaplan expressed in a statement.
The ruling follows a legal victory for the president-elect in a related defamation case he initiated against ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos, who stated on air that the civil jury found Trump had raped Carroll. ABC settled that case, agreeing to pay $15 million to Trump’s presidential library.
Carroll has accused Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room during the 1990s and subsequently sued him for civil damages. In May 2023, a federal jury did not find Trump liable for rape but held him accountable for sexual abuse and defamation, ordering him to pay Carroll $5 million.
Earlier in the year, a separate jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million for another defamation claim. Trump is also appealing that judgment.
Both defamation claims stem from Trump’s statements in which he denied Carroll's account of rape and labeled her a liar.
The "Access Hollywood" tape, which features Trump in 2005 discussing how he used his celebrity status to kiss and grope women without consent, has loomed over him since 2016 when it nearly jeopardized his early presidential campaign shortly before the election. Although it did not ultimately derail his candidacy, it has remained a significant element in various legal cases he has faced since then.
“We conclude that the Access Hollywood tape described conduct that was sufficiently similar in material respects to the conduct alleged by Ms. Carroll to show the existence of a pattern,” the judges ruled, referencing Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, the two other women permitted to testify that Trump assaulted them.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
A three-judge panel ruled unanimously on Monday that the trial judge did not violate Trump’s rights by allowing Carroll to present evidence that suggested Trump had committed other sexual assaults. This evidence included statements from Trump on the well-known “Access Hollywood” tape and testimonies from two other women who accused him of sexual assault.
“[T]he jury could reasonably infer … that Mr. Trump engaged in similar conduct with other women — a pattern of abrupt, nonconsensual, and physical advances on women he barely knew,” the panel stated in a 77-page opinion. The judges involved in the ruling were Obama appointees Denny Chin and Susan Carney, along with Biden appointee Myrna Perez.
This ruling represents a notable legal setback for Trump as he prepares for his inauguration next month—an outcome that many anticipated. Trump may choose to appeal the decision to the full bench of the Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals or to the Supreme Court. Aides mentioned that he would pursue an appeal against what spokesman Steven Cheung referred to as the “Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax.”
Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney, praised the “careful” ruling. “E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today’s decision,” Kaplan expressed in a statement.
The ruling follows a legal victory for the president-elect in a related defamation case he initiated against ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos, who stated on air that the civil jury found Trump had raped Carroll. ABC settled that case, agreeing to pay $15 million to Trump’s presidential library.
Carroll has accused Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room during the 1990s and subsequently sued him for civil damages. In May 2023, a federal jury did not find Trump liable for rape but held him accountable for sexual abuse and defamation, ordering him to pay Carroll $5 million.
Earlier in the year, a separate jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million for another defamation claim. Trump is also appealing that judgment.
Both defamation claims stem from Trump’s statements in which he denied Carroll's account of rape and labeled her a liar.
The "Access Hollywood" tape, which features Trump in 2005 discussing how he used his celebrity status to kiss and grope women without consent, has loomed over him since 2016 when it nearly jeopardized his early presidential campaign shortly before the election. Although it did not ultimately derail his candidacy, it has remained a significant element in various legal cases he has faced since then.
“We conclude that the Access Hollywood tape described conduct that was sufficiently similar in material respects to the conduct alleged by Ms. Carroll to show the existence of a pattern,” the judges ruled, referencing Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, the two other women permitted to testify that Trump assaulted them.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
