A US appeals court has upheld a massive defamation penalty against President Donald Trump. The court confirmed that Trump must pay author E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million (about Ksh.10.7 billion) for defamatory remarks he made after she accused him of sexual assault.
Breakdown of the Damages
The January 2024 jury order awarded Carroll:
- $65 million in punitive damages
- $7.3 million in compensatory damages
- $11 million to fund an online campaign to restore her reputation
The figure far exceeded Carroll’s initial request of $10 million. Jurors said the extraordinary nature of Trump’s comments justified the penalty.
Background of the Case
Carroll, now 81, first went public in 2019 with claims that Trump sexually assaulted her in a New York department store in 1996. Trump denied the allegations, calling her a liar and saying she was “not my type.”
In court, jurors saw Trump’s 2022 deposition, where he confused a photo of Carroll with his ex-wife Marla Maples. This cast doubt on his claim that Carroll was not attractive to him.
In 2023, another federal jury had already found Trump liable for the assault and for defaming Carroll again in 2022, when he dismissed her claims as a “complete con job.”
Appeals Court Decision
The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the damages were reasonable. Judges agreed that Trump would likely continue to defame Carroll unless faced with a “substantial financial penalty.”
The ruling shocked many in the courtroom and delivered a major blow to Trump, who is battling several legal cases while running for president again.
Trump’s Reaction
Trump was not required to attend the trial. However, he used his Truth Social platform to attack Carroll, the judge, and the legal process. He painted himself as a political target, hoping to gain support from his base.
The decision adds to the growing legal and financial challenges facing Trump as he seeks a return to the White House.
