Jury Awards Former Magazine Columnist E. Jean Carroll $5 Million in Damages After Finding Former President Donald Trump Liable for Sexual Abuse and Defamation

A civil jury found former President Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation of former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll Tuesday, awarding her a total of $5 million in damages. The jury, comprised of six men and three women, had been kept anonymous throughout the trial by U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan, citing Trump’s rhetorical attacks related to the case.

Carroll was able to sue under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which allows sexual abuse survivors a one-time chance to file civil suits in spite of any relevant statutes of limitations. After just three hours of deliberations, the jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, and awarded her $5 million in damages.

Former President Donald Trump reacted to the verdict on Tuesday, telling his Truth Social followers “THIS VERDICT IS A DISGRACE – A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!”

The jury’s verdict came after a lengthy legal battle between Carroll and Trump, which began in 2019 when Carroll accused Trump of raping her in a New York department store in the 1990s. Trump denied the allegations, claiming he had never met Carroll and that the rape never happened.

The jury’s decision is a victory for Carroll, who has been fighting for justice for over two years. The $5 million award is a significant amount, and serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, regardless of their social or political standing.