Washington (The COW News Digital)A U.S. federal appeals court has upheld an $83.3 million defamation award against former President Donald Trump in favor of writer E. Jean Carroll, reaffirming an earlier jury ruling that found Trump liable for repeatedly defaming her following her sexual assault allegations.
According to international media reports, the three-judge panel rejected Trump’s appeal, stating that the district court did not commit any legal error in the trial and that the damages awarded were appropriate given the “extraordinary and serious nature” of the case.
E. Jean Carroll, now 81, accused Trump in 2019 during the height of the #MeToo movement, claiming he sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. Following her allegations, Trump denied the claims and mocked Carroll publicly, infamously saying, “She’s not my type.” He repeatedly labeled her a liar and made derogatory remarks that, according to the court, were malicious and damaging to her reputation.
A jury in 2022 found Trump liable for defamation and ordered him to pay damages. The following year, another jury determined that his continued statements further harmed Carroll’s reputation and credibility, leading to additional financial penalties.
The appeals court affirmed that Trump showed no sign of stopping his defamatory attacks and that only a substantial financial penalty could deter him from continuing his campaign against Carroll. The decision emphasized that the damages were not excessive but proportionate to the harm caused and the former president’s persistent misconduct.
Trump, who has repeatedly dismissed the lawsuits as politically motivated, did not testify or appear in person during the hearings. Instead, he continued to attack Carroll and the judiciary through his social media platform, Truth Social, where he also criticized the presiding judge as “highly biased.”
Carroll’s legal victory is considered significant not only for her personally but also for the broader fight against defamation and the silencing of sexual assault survivors. Legal experts say the ruling underscores the courts’ unwillingness to allow influential figures to use their platforms to discredit victims without accountability.
Meanwhile, Trump faces multiple legal challenges as he campaigns for the 2024 election, ranging from criminal indictments to civil fraud cases, all of which he dismisses as part of a coordinated effort to derail his political ambitions.
