Last updated on: May 10, 2023

In a highly anticipated verdict, a jury in New York found former President Donald Trump liable for sexually assaulting and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s and ordered him to pay $5 million in damages. Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, after less than three hours of deliberation, the jury of six men and three women rendered its verdict. This decision is a significant legal setback for Trump, who has been plagued by sexual misconduct and assault allegations for years.

Background

E. Jean Carroll Former Elle magazine advice columnist Jean Carroll filed a lawsuit against Trump in 2019, accusing him of raping her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump denied the allegations, claiming he had never met Carroll, despite the subsequent discovery of a photograph of them at a social event. Trump also criticized Carroll in the media, calling her a liar and claiming she had fabricated the allegations for publicity.

The Verdict
After deliberating for less than three hours, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Carroll following a week-long trial. Trump was found liable for sexual assault and defamation. In addition to compensatory damages, the $5 million award includes punitive damages.

Reaction

After the verdict was announced, Carroll, who is now 79 years old, said something. “Today, the whole world finally knows the truth,” she said. “This win isn’t just for me; it’s for every woman who has been hurt because no one believed her.” She also said that she hoped the verdict would be a warning to other powerful men who might be tempted to do the same thing.

Trump didn’t go to the trial, but a spokesperson for him said that the verdict was “a total miscarriage of justice.” He also said that he would appeal the decision and that “there is no evidence to support the allegations made against him.”

Legal Implications

The verdict is likely to have major legal consequences for Trump, who is already facing a number of lawsuits and criminal investigations related to his actions before and during his time as president. The decision could also affect the #MeToo movement and women’s ability to hold powerful men accountable for sexual assault and harassment.