Donald Trump won't get off the hook for the $5 million the jury awarded E. Jean Carroll in 2023 after finding Trump liable for sexual abuse… because a federal court had just upheld the verdict.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued its decision on Monday … declaring that the judge did not abuse his discretion in deciding the case's evidence.
The court also rejected Trump's request for a new trial. According to CNN, the court also ruled that even if the judge had made errors, the strength of Carroll's evidence made it unlikely that he would have influenced the case enough to warrant a new trial.
Notably… a jury also ruled that Trump must pay Carroll $83.3 million for defaming her – another verdict that Trump is appealing.
If you don't remember… Carroll sued Trump for assault and defamation, claiming Trump raped her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in 1996. The jury considered him liable of sexual abuse and defamation, but could not hold him liable for rape.
The president-elect has repeatedly denied the allegations made against him by Carroll, calling it all a “hoax.”
Trump sat for a deposition in the case in October 2022… and clarified his infamous “Access Hollywood” hot mic moment in which he said stars can “do anything, grab them by the ass.” You can do anything.”
October 2022
Unsurprisingly, Trump doesn't budge after this appeal… to his spokesman Steven Cheung He confirms there will be further appeals – and describes Carroll's lawsuit as one of the many “witch hunts” DJT is facing.
Cheung tells TMZ… “The American people have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate and are demanding an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a rapid end to all witch hunts, including those by Democrats,” the Carroll Hoax, which remains under appeal becomes. We look forward to uniting our country in the new administration as President Trump makes America great again.”