E. Jean Carroll Triumphs in Significant Defamation Lawsuit Against Trump
Donald J. Trump found liable for defaming E. Jean Carroll and for non-consensual sexual contact; a civil jury awards $5 million in damages.
May 9, 2023
It is with a sense of poetic justice that Donald J. Trump, the man who once pledged to amend libel laws to facilitate suing individuals spreading falsehoods, has been held accountable for defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll. Trump falsely denounced Carroll's allegations of sexual assault, which took place in the mid-1990s, as a 'complete con job' and a 'hoax and a lie.'
A civil jury unanimously ruled that Trump, notorious for his deceitful tendencies, was the one manipulating the truth by denying his heinous conduct in a Manhattan department store dressing room. Additionally, the jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll, meaning he subjected her to non-consensual sexual contact. However, the jury did not conclude that Trump was liable for the specific sex crime of rape, instead awarding $5 million in damages for his other offenses.
The now 79-year-old Carroll pursued her claim under the Adult Survivors Act, a legislation that grants New York victims of sex crimes a one-year retroactive window to address their abusers in civil court. This essential law acknowledges the state's historically restrictive statutes of limitations and the intricacies of sex crimes, granting countless victims the opportunity to seek justice that had long been denied.
Despite the unanimous ruling, Trump will undoubtedly maintain his denial of Carroll's allegations. It is crucial to note that the decision is not a criminal conviction; the standard is not guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but a preponderance of the evidence. In other words, the jury determined it was more probable than not that Trump harmed Carroll.
Thus, utilizing legally accurate terminology, Trump – who infamously bragged about groping women on the 'Access Hollywood' tape – should not be classified as a proven sex criminal. Instead, he is a disreputable liar who tarnished the reputation of a woman accusing him of sex crimes. The question remains whether such a man should ever serve as the United States president again.