Former President Donald Trump faces another legal setback as a federal appeals court upholds a $5 million judgment against him in the E. Jean Carroll case.
At a Glance
- Federal appeals court upholds $5 million judgment against Trump in E. Jean Carroll case
- Trump found liable for sexual abuse and defamation
- Trump denies allegations, claims political witch hunt and judicial bias
- Court rejects Trump’s appeal, finds no errors affecting his rights
- Trump spokesperson criticizes ruling, calls for end to “political weaponization” of justice system
Appeals Court Upholds Verdict Against Trump
In a significant development, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a $5 million civil judgment against former President Donald Trump in the E. Jean Carroll case. The court rejected Trump’s appeal, stating that he failed to demonstrate any errors that affected his substantial rights during the trial.
“We conclude that Mr. Trump has not demonstrated that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings. Further, he has not carried his burden to show that any claimed error or combination of claimed errors affected his substantial rights as required to warrant a new trial,” the ruling said.
The jury had previously found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the 1990s and defaming her after she went public with her allegations. Trump has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his innocence and framing the legal proceedings as part of a larger politically-driven agenda designed to tarnish his legacy.
A federal appeals court denied Donald Trump’s request for a new trial in New York writer E. Jean Carroll’s sexual abuse lawsuit, dealing a blow to the president-elect as he seeks to put his legal woes behind him before taking office. https://t.co/cNKV2HyeJp
— Bloomberg Law (@BLaw) December 30, 2024
Trump’s Response and Claims of Witch Hunt
In response to the court’s decision, Trump’s camp has doubled down on their claims of political persecution. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung issued a statement criticizing the ruling and calling for an end to what he described as the political weaponization of the justice system.
“The American People have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax, which will continue to be appealed,” said Cheung.
This stance underscores Trump’s consistent narrative of being the target of unfair legal proceedings orchestrated by his political rivals. The former president has maintained a position of defiance against what he terms political persecution, framing each legal challenge as part of a broader conspiracy against him.
Details of the Case and Appeal
Carroll’s lawsuit alleged that Trump sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store in 1996 and later defamed her by calling her claims a “hoax” and a “con job.” During the trial, Trump did not testify or present a defense case, a strategy that has drawn criticism from some legal experts.
The appeal challenged several aspects of the trial, including the inclusion of testimony from two other women who alleged Trump had sexually accosted them. However, the appeals court found this evidence relevant and ruled that there was no abuse of discretion in the evidentiary rulings during the trial.
Ongoing Legal Battles
This case is just one of several legal challenges facing the former president. Trump is also appealing an $83 million defamation judgment in a separate case related to comments he made about Carroll. These ongoing legal battles continue to shape the political landscape as Trump maintains his position as the leading figure in the Republican Party.
As the legal proceedings continue, many of his supporters view these cases as evidence of a biased system, while his critics see them as necessary accountability for alleged misconduct. The ongoing saga exemplifies Trump’s often-adversarial approach to legal challenges and his determination to rally against accusations he considers baseless.
