Leftist judge hits Trump with insane fine in E. Jean Carroll case

In a landmark decision, a New York jury has ordered former President Donald Trump to pay an additional $83.3 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll, a former advice columnist who accused him of sexual assault and defamation. This verdict follows a previous award of $5 million to Carroll, marking the second judicial finding in her favor within nine months.

The case centers around Carroll’s allegations of a 1996 encounter with Trump at a Bergdorf Goodman store that she claims turned violent. While a jury earlier found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, it did not hold him responsible for rape. Trump, who attended this second trial after regretting his absence from the first, has vowed to appeal the awards.

During the trial, Trump’s brief testimony reiterated his denial of the assault, sparking controversy when he abruptly exited the courtroom during Carroll’s lawyer’s closing arguments. The recent jury was tasked with determining the compensation for Carroll over Trump’s defamatory remarks made during his presidency, not to re-litigate the assault’s occurrence.

Carroll, who described the impact of Trump’s public denials on her life, including receiving death threats, aims to restore her reputation and halt Trump’s derogatory assertions. Her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, emphasized the need for a substantial punitive award to deter Trump from further defamatory statements.

The trial unfolded amidst Trump’s ongoing political activities, with his legal challenges becoming a focal point in his narrative of a politicized judicial system. Despite his claims, there is no evidence of White House involvement in the legal proceedings against him.

Trump’s defense argued that Carroll had capitalized on her accusations for fame and financial gain, a claim contested by Carroll’s side, which presented expert testimony on the significant reputational damage she suffered due to Trump’s comments.