Donald Trump has been directed by the court to pay $83.3 million in a defamation case brought against him by a woman whom he was previously found liable for sexually assaulting.
The former US president dismissed the verdict as a “witch hunt.”
“Absolutely ridiculous! I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party.
“Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!,” Trump posted on his Truth Social account after the jury’s decision
The court’s ruling mandates Trump to pay $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages to E. Jean Carroll.
Ms. Carroll displayed a smile as the verdict was delivered, while Trump had already departed the premises in his motorcade.
Reacting to the jury’s decision on his Truth Social account, Trump denounced the outcome as “absolutely ridiculous,” announcing his intention to appeal what he labeled as a “Biden Directed Witch Hunt.”
He criticized the legal system, asserting that it is being manipulated as a political weapon, and lamented the erosion of First Amendment rights.
During the trial, jurors heard closing arguments, with Ms. Carroll’s lawyer emphasizing that Trump should face severe consequences for defaming her.
This case follows a separate ruling last year where Trump was ordered to pay Ms. Carroll $5 million after being found liable for sexually abusing her in a New York department store during the mid-1990s and subsequently defaming her.
The trial, which concluded recently, focused solely on determining the damages Trump must pay for defaming Ms. Carroll, surpassing the $10 million she initially sought.
Ms. Carroll, an 80-year-old former Elle magazine advice columnist, accused Trump of tarnishing her reputation as a credible journalist by branding her a liar regarding her rape allegation. She endured years of relentless attacks, including death threats, following Trump’s disparaging remarks.
Trump’s legal counsel argued that Ms. Carroll did not merit any compensation, contending that she benefited from the attention and experienced no professional or emotional harm as a result of Trump’s accusations.
Trump, who is positioning himself as the leading Republican candidate for the upcoming US election, vehemently protested Ms. Carroll’s assertions, labeling them a “witch hunt” and a “con job.”
The former president, a familiar figure in legal proceedings, attended the trial in its entirety, except for the opening statements, which he skipped due to a presidential campaign event.
With the upcoming election, Trump aims to reclaim the White House in a potential face-off against Democrat Joe Biden, his 2020 election rival who emerged victorious.
In response to the ruling, Ms. Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, emphasized the importance of holding Trump accountable, stating, “We all have to follow the law. Donald Trump, however, acts as if these rules and laws just don’t apply to him.”
