Donald Trump may know how to win elections but seems to be racking up losses in the courtroom.
The gavel came down Trump again as a federal appeals court upheld the $5 million verdict against him for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll, a veteran magazine columnist.
Now, let’s rewind a bit. As we previously reported, Back in 1996, Carroll had what she thought was a cordial encounter with Trump. But what started as a simple meeting in a department store turned into something much darker when they stepped into that changing room. Fast forward to 2023, and Carroll bravely took the stand, sharing her painful experience with the world. Trump, however, was a no-show at the trial.
However, Trump made a brief appearance at a later trial this year. That trial hit him with an even bigger blow: an $83.3 million award stemming from comments he made in 2019 after Carroll went public with her allegations in her memoir.
RELATED:Jack Smith Seeks Dismissal of Two Federal Cases Against Trump
This past Monday, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed what many already knew—the jury’s verdict was solid, and they upheld that $5 million compensation for both defamation and sexual abuse. It’s a significant moment in the fight for justice, especially considering Carroll utilized the Adult Survivors Act in New York to file her lawsuit. The act allowed survivors of sexual assault to pursue civil cases even after the usual statute of limitations has run out — a reminder that survivors can still claim their power, no matter how long it takes.
Now, despite the gravity of these allegations, Trump continues to deny ever meeting Carroll… He even went so far as to assert that she wasn’t his “type.” Carroll’s legal team interpreted it as an insinuation that her attractiveness somehow factors into the legitimacy of her claims.
Amidst all this, Trump had a moment of legal reprieve last month when special counsel Jack Smith dismissed two federal cases against him. Smith’s reasoning? The Justice Department can’t prosecute a sitting president. While that may have been a small win for him, the dismissal was “without prejudice,” meaning those charges could very well come back to haunt him once he wraps up his term.
Trump who is vocal on social media has not yet responded to these claims.
