On January 26, 2024, a federal jury in the U.S. district court in Manhattan ruled against former president Donald Trump, ordering him to pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for defaming her statements about him sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996. This verdict, in addition to the previous $5 million defamation verdict Carroll won over Trump last year, was announced less than three hours after deliberations began among the nine-member jury.
Throughout the trial, Judge Lewis Kaplan had minimal patience for Trump’s attorneys during the closing arguments and his frequent outbursts, telling his attorney to sit down after overruling an objection.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump retorted, writing: Kaplan “should be sanctioned for his abuse of power – No wonder our country is going to Hell!” Michael Madaio, one of Trump’s attorneys, argued that Kaplan had exhibited “general hostility during towards the defense,” asking him to recuse himself from the case. This request, however, was quickly denied.
Trump did not appear in court for the reading of the verdict on punitive and compensatory damages but later released a statement on social media that he would appeal these claims. This meant that the funds would not be accessible to Carroll until all appeals were satisfied.
Trump argued that he was prejudiced against posting, saying “Our legal system is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA.” Form IV student, Helena Stark, responds, “I do believe the prosecutors are biased against Trump, but it is impossible to find an American who is unbiased…Even if they are biased, they are still presenting serious allegations.”
Carroll’s lawyers argued for $24 million for punitive damages, an unusually high amount in hopes of ending his defamatory behavior. By continuously denying the allegation, Trump was destroying Carroll’s reputation. She also received a variety of death threats, sometimes hundreds a day including one that read: “Rape Jean rape Jean,” causing her to purchase a pitbull and bullets for an inherited gun which she now keeps by her bedside.
When the verdict included $65 million for such statements, it sent a message that a jury of ordinary citizens was distrustful of Trump. After the ruling, Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan said, “Today’s verdict proves that the law applies to everyone in our country, even the rich, even the famous, even former presidents. There’s a way to stand up to someone like Donald Trump who cares more about wealth, fame and power than respecting the law.”
Despite Trump’s clear rage and fury as a result of this ruling, it is important to consider the implications for a man worth $2.6 billion. Form IV student Samantha Gold stated, “I think for his case they need to drift away from financial punishments because it shows him no impact because he has so much money.” In civil cases like this, the primary means to punish behavior is with financial penalties. Unfortunately, the wealthy are not as impacted by these large verdicts as they represent a small portion of their net worth.
