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In a landmark decision, a federal appeals court upheld a jury’s ruling that former President Donald Trump sexually abused E. Jean Carroll, a magazine columnist, in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Alongside the ruling, the court affirmed a $5 million judgment for defamation and sexual abuse. The decision comes after years of legal battles between Carroll and Trump, marked by sharp disputes and shocking testimony.
It was 2005 when Donald Trump, then a business mogul, made remarks on the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape that would later echo in a courtroom. “When you’re a star, they let you do it,” he boasted. “You can do anything… Grab ’em by the py.” Fast-forward to 2023, and these words were played to a Manhattan jury as part of evidence suggesting a troubling pattern of behavior.
This decision cements a pivotal moment in holding a public figure accountable for allegations of sexual misconduct.
The case centered on an incident Carroll said occurred in spring 1996, when a chance meeting with Trump at a Manhattan department store turned sinister. According to her testimony, what began as playful banter led to Trump violently assaulting her in a dressing room. Carroll’s account was supported by two women she confided in at the time and echoed by testimony from other women who described eerily similar encounters with Trump.
Trump denied the accusations, labeling them a hoax. Despite his public denials, he declined to appear at the first trial, held in 2023, where the jury sided with Carroll. The jury’s verdict was clear: Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation and ordered to pay $5 million in damages.
In January 2024, a second trial revisited the fallout of Trump’s defamation. This time, Carroll sought damages for comments Trump made in 2019 while serving as president, in which he dismissed her allegations and insulted her publicly. Jurors in this trial were instructed to accept the 2023 jury’s finding that Trump had sexually abused Carroll. The outcome was even more staggering: an $83.3 million award for Carroll.
Trump made a brief appearance at the second trial, testifying for under three minutes. Although limited in what he could challenge, his behavior in court—marked by visible frustration—was noted by observers.
Trump’s legal team mounted an aggressive appeal, arguing that the trial judge had made critical errors. They objected to the inclusion of testimony from two women who accused Trump of similar misconduct in prior decades, claiming their stories were prejudicial. They also challenged the court’s decision to play the “Access Hollywood” tape, which they argued had no direct link to Carroll’s claims.
The appeals court rejected these arguments outright. “In each of the three encounters,” the court noted, “Mr. Trump engaged in an ordinary conversation with a woman he barely knew, then abruptly lunged at her in a semi-public place and proceeded to kiss and forcefully touch her without her consent.” The court concluded that these incidents formed a pattern and that the tape corroborated the testimonies.
For Carroll, the battles in court were about more than legal victories—they were deeply personal. She testified that Trump’s repeated denials and disparaging comments disrupted her life, leading to death threats and forcing her to live in fear at her upstate New York cabin. Once a celebrated Elle columnist, Carroll’s professional and personal life unraveled under the weight of public scrutiny.
This decision cements a pivotal moment in holding a public figure accountable for allegations of sexual misconduct. Trump’s spokesperson dismissed the case as a political witch hunt, vowing further appeals. Carroll, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for the court’s careful deliberation.
As the legal saga continues—with pending appeals for the second trial—the ruling sends a clear message: in the realm of justice, even the powerful must answer for their actions.
With information from AP News
