Appeals Court Upholds Jury’s $5 million Verdict in Trump’s E. Jean Carroll Case

What Happened?

A federal appeals court Monday upheld a jury’s verdict finding President-elect Donald Trump liable in a $5 million civil judgment for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s.

The civil suit also claimed Trump defamed Carroll by denying her story when she came forward during his first presidential term.

Trump was also denied a request for a new trial despite reportedly alleging the trial judge made numerous errors.

Those alleged errors included two testimonies allowed from two other women who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by him.

Why it Matters

The appeals court reportedly concluded that the trial judge in 2023 didn’t abuse his discretion in ruling on evidence.

In a 77-page ruling, a three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit gave their unsigned opinion that Trump had failed to demonstrate 'that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings.'

The judges' ruling added that they were not persuaded Trump’s rights were affected enough to warrant a new trial even if errors were made given the strength of Carroll’s case.

'Both E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today's decision. We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties' arguments,' Carroll's attorney Roberta Kaplan said in a statement.

Trump spokesman and incoming White House communications director Steven Cheung issued a statement that said in part, 'The American People have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system.'

Cheung adds that Trump will continue to appeal the verdict.

A separate New York jury awarded Carroll more than $80 million after finding Trump defamed her by denying sexual abuse.

Trump is reportedly also appealing that verdict.

It is a challenging scenario as Trump is set to take office while still defending against pending lawsuits in federal court.

Generally, courts are likely to move slowly to ensure litigation won’t burden the work of a sitting president.

However, Trump has been heavily pursued on many bases.

This includes his ongoing New York 'hush money' case battle.

Trump's list of presidential tasks certainly runs long amid ongoing global conflicts, inflation, and tough decisions along the border that involve immigration.

How it Affects You

The resolution of these cases will be important during a crucial time for the U.S. in many ways.

Some say it could impact how Trump can manage these tasks.

Trump's lawsuits against some media companies may also affect relationships between the press and the incoming administration.

While justice will serve its process, the U.S. is counting on a rebooted economy and a focused president to guide these efforts.