Staff Reports
In a recent defamation suit against former President Donald Trump, a New York jury has awarded writer E. Jean Carroll a whopping $83 million in damages. Carroll, who claimed that Trump sexually abused her in the 1990s, first filed her civil suit last spring. Trump has vehemently denied the allegations, stating that he doesn’t even know Carroll.
New York Jury Issues $83M Damages Verdict In Trump, E. Jean Carroll Defamation Suit
The amount was much more than Carroll was seeking. https://t.co/rQ4WLm4t9i
— Randy DeSoto (@RandyDeSoto) January 26, 2024
This latest lawsuit came about after Carroll accused Trump of defaming her in his reactions to last year’s ruling, which included calling her a “whack job.” The jury’s award consisted of $11 million for damage to Carroll’s reputation, $7.3 million for emotional harm and other damages, and a staggering $65 million in punitive damages. So much for Trump’s claim of being a “stable genius” or “billion-dollar businessman” – this verdict must have stung.
The jury took less than three hours to come to their decision, and Carroll had initially sought at least $10 million in damages. However, her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, pushed for much more during closing arguments, asking the jury for at least $24 million in compensatory damages and “lots and lots of money” in punitive damages. Judging by the final verdict, it seems like Kaplan’s request resonated with the jury.
Throughout the trial, Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, argued that Carroll should not be entitled to any damages because she actively sought the attention and comments she received. Trump himself stood by his previous remarks during his deposition, calling Carroll a liar and categorizing her allegations as false accusations. Habba declared that the judge had prohibited them from raising certain defenses in front of the jury, vowing to appeal the decision and claiming that everyone has the right to defend themselves when wrongfully accused.
Unsurprisingly, Trump took to his new social media platform, Truth Social, to express his disagreement with the verdict. He referred to the trial as a witch hunt directed by President Biden, criticized the legal system for being out of control, and claimed that his First Amendment rights had been taken away. It looks like Trump still can’t handle the concept of being held accountable for his words and actions.
In the end, this verdict serves as a reminder that no one, not even a former president, is immune to the consequences of their actions. Trump may try to play the victim, but the verdict shows that the jury saw through his bluster and believed Carroll’s claims. Let’s hope that this outcome sets a powerful precedent for holding those in power accountable for their behavior, no matter how much they try to deny it.
