Trump Completes $5 Million Payment to E Jean Carroll
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has paid more than $5 million to writer E Jean Carroll, satisfying a damage award from a civil case where he was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The payment comes three years after a jury ruled in favor of Carroll, who accused Trump of assaulting her in the 1990s.
Legal Developments and Delays
Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, confirmed the payment and expressed satisfaction with the outcome in a brief statement. Trump's attempts to delay the payment while seeking a Supreme Court review were unsuccessful, as a judge ordered the damages to be paid last week. Although Trump's legal team refrained from commenting, Carroll's lawyers noted that the total payment exceeded $5.62 million, accounting for damages and interest accrued during the legal process.
Carroll, now 82, alleged that Trump assaulted her in a Manhattan department store dressing room decades ago and later defamed her on his social media platform, Truth Social, by denying her claims. In 2023, a New York jury sided with Carroll, awarding her damages, despite Trump's persistent denials of the allegations.
Challenge and Response
Following the jury's decision, Trump deposited the damages into a court-controlled account, pending the outcome of his appeals. His legal team criticized the ruling as a politically motivated attack and accused Judge Lewis Kaplan of bias, claiming the trial was manipulated against Trump. However, a federal appeals court upheld the jury's verdict, rejecting claims of judicial error. The Supreme Court's refusal to hear Trump's appeal solidified Carroll's right to the awarded damages.
In response to the legal victory, Carroll expressed her triumph on her Substack blog, celebrating the decision as a significant win for women globally.
Ongoing Legal Disputes
Trump also faces another appeal concerning a separate defamation claim by Carroll, which resulted in an $84 million award. A panel of federal judges denied his appeal last year, reinforcing the previous jury's decision.
Carroll's legal battle with Trump remains a prominent example of high-profile defamation and abuse cases, highlighting the complexities and challenges within the U.S. legal system.
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