Trump to pay up: defamation of journalist will cost him $83.3 million

On Monday, September 8, judges ruled that the previous jury decision was reasonable given the evidence presented. Thus, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the $83.3 million fine against Donald Trump for defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll.

The appeals court also rejected Trump’s claim that he had presidential immunity when making public statements about Carroll. Judges noted that his repeated denials and attacks on Carroll after the first jury verdict justified the imposition of punitive damages.

Case details

Carroll alleged that Trump raped her in a department store in the mid-1990s and then defamed her by denying the accusations. In 2023, a jury awarded her $5 million after finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The federal appeals court upheld that verdict.

During the appeals process, video clips were reviewed showing Trump calling Carroll a "liar," "sick," and "wack job." Judges stated that his conduct before and after the verdict was extraordinary and unprecedented, warranting the $83.3 million judgment.

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Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, said: "We look forward to an end to the appellate process so that justice will finally be done."

Trump’s legal team called the case a "witch hunt" and demanded it be dismissed, arguing that the Department of Justice should represent Trump’s interests in further appeals, including a possible petition to the Supreme Court.

Trump has until November to request Supreme Court review of the appeal.

Carroll has not yet commented on the appeals court’s decision. Earlier this year, she published a book titled "Not My Type: One Woman vs. Donald Trump," in which she detailed her case against him.