In a significant legal development, a federal appeals court has upheld a $5 million judgment against former President Donald Trump in a civil case brought by E. Jean Carroll. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed the jury’s findings that Trump sexually abused and defamed Carroll, a longtime magazine columnist, during a violent incident in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.
Carroll testified in 2023 that what began as a lighthearted interaction with Trump escalated into an assault. The jury also reviewed evidence, including the infamous 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape, where Trump made controversial remarks about his behavior toward women.
Trump, who denied the allegations and skipped the initial trial, later testified briefly during a follow-up defamation trial in 2024. This second case stemmed from defamatory statements he made in 2019 after Carroll disclosed the incident in her memoir. In January 2024, a jury awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million in damages for these remarks.
Trump’s lawyers argued the court erred by allowing testimony from two other women who accused Trump of similar conduct and by including the “Access Hollywood” tape as evidence. However, the appeals court rejected these claims, stating that the acts described showed a consistent pattern of behavior and that the tape corroborated the accusations.
Carroll expressed gratitude for the court’s decision, while Trump’s spokesperson decried the case as politically motivated. The ruling underscores the broader implications of the case, as Carroll testified about the toll Trump’s public comments took on her personal and professional life. The appeal for the larger defamation verdict remains pending.
