The United States President Donald Trump
By Daisy Okiring
A US appeals court on Monday upheld an $83.3 million (about Ksh10.7 billion) defamation award against former President Donald Trump in a case brought by author E. Jean Carroll. The decision reinforces a January 2024 jury ruling that Trump maliciously defamed Carroll after she accused him of sexual assault, prompting an extraordinary financial penalty.
The award included $65 million in punitive damages, $7.3 million in compensatory damages, and $11 million earmarked for repairing Carroll’s public image after Trump’s repeated attacks. The ruling shocked the federal courtroom when it was first announced, as Carroll had initially sought damages of just over $10 million.
In its decision, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit wrote that the jury’s verdict was justified given the “extraordinary and egregious facts of this case.” Judges concluded that Trump would not have stopped his campaign of insults and denials without a “substantial financial penalty.”
Trump’s Attacks on Carroll
Carroll, now 81, first went public in 2019 with allegations that Trump sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump denied the claims, dismissing her with the remark that she was “not my type.” The comments sparked years of litigation.
Jurors were shown Trump’s 2022 deposition in which he confused a photo of Carroll with one of his former wife, Marla Maples, undercutting his own defense. In May 2023, a separate federal jury found Trump liable for sexual assault and for defaming Carroll in statements made the following year.
Despite not being required to attend the trial, Trump used the proceedings to rally political support as he campaigned for a return to the White House. He lashed out on his Truth Social platform, posting a series of derogatory messages attacking Carroll, the trial, and the presiding judge, whom he labeled “extremely abusive.”
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Political Fallout and Next Steps
The financial judgment adds to Trump’s mounting legal troubles as he pursues another presidential bid. Analysts note that while Trump continues to portray himself as a victim of political persecution, the Carroll case stands apart because it is a civil ruling based on personal misconduct.
Carroll’s lawyers welcomed the appeals court decision, calling it an important step toward accountability. They argued that the financial penalty sends a message that public figures cannot use their platforms to smear survivors of sexual violence with impunity.
For Trump, the ruling is both a legal and political challenge. He is already facing multiple criminal and civil cases while attempting to secure his party’s nomination ahead of the 2026 election cycle. While his supporters are likely to view the ruling as further evidence of establishment bias, critics say it underscores a pattern of disrespect for the rule of law.
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The appeals court decision means Trump must pay Carroll unless the Supreme Court agrees to hear a further appeal. Legal experts suggest the case will continue to influence both Trump’s campaign narrative and broader debates about accountability for powerful public figures.
As the legal battles drag on, Carroll’s long fight has entered a decisive phase. The appeals court’s ruling not only affirmed the record damages but also highlighted the judiciary’s determination to hold Trump to account for words that inflicted lasting harm on her reputation.
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