The jury found on Tuesday (May 9) that former US President Donald Trump sexually assaulted magazine writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s before labeling her a liar. Carroll received a total of $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages from the federal court in Manhattan’s nine-member jury.
The jury, which consisted of six men and three women, came to a unanimous conclusion in just under three hours. Carroll claimed that the former president raped her, but the jury disagreed, according to Reuters.
E. Jean Carroll received a total of $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages
Carroll’s defamation action against the former president was determined to be valid, and the jury awarded her approximately $3 million in damages. Additionally, Trump should pay for her civil battery claim’s damages of about $2 million. Accordingly, the jury decided to give the author a total of around $5 million, which is seen as a huge setback for Trump.
Trump’s reaction to the verdict
Carroll was reportedly spotted shaking hands with her attorneys as the judgment was announced and grinning after Trump was found responsible for harassing and defaming Carroll. Later, she was seen laughing and donning sunglasses as she exited the courthouse with her attorney Roberta Kaplan, oblivious to the reporters waiting outside.
After the decision, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social and called the verdict a “disgrace”. He also reiterated his claim that he has “absolutely no idea” who Carroll is. The former president wrote: “I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN IS. THIS VERDICT IS A DISGRACE – A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!” Â
