Washington, Dec 31 (IANS) – A US federal appeals court has upheld a $5 million jury verdict against President-elect Donald Trump in a high-profile sexual abuse and defamation case involving writer E. Jean Carroll.
The case stems from a civil trial in New York, where a jury found Trump guilty of sexually abusing Carroll in a Manhattan department store in 1996. The jury awarded Carroll $2 million for the abuse and $3 million for defamation after Trump publicly denied her allegations.
Trump’s Appeal Dismissed
Trump appealed the ruling, arguing that testimonies from two other women accusing him of sexual assault were improperly admitted as evidence. However, the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal, stating:
- "Mr. Trump has not demonstrated that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings. Further, he has not carried his burden to show that any claimed error or combination of claimed errors affected his substantial rights as required to warrant a new trial."
- Additional Legal Challenges
In a separate case brought by Carroll, a jury awarded her $83 million in damages, which Trump is also appealing.
Meanwhile, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung called the $5 million judgment a "hoax, " accusing Democrats of using the judicial system for political purposes. Cheung announced Trump’s plans to continue appealing the decision, stating:
- "The American people re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate. These cases are politically motivated and must end."
- Ongoing Legal Battles
Although special counsel Jack Smith dropped two federal cases against Trump, citing Justice Department policies against prosecuting a sitting President, Trump still faces significant legal hurdles.
In May, Trump was convicted in New York on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. While Judge Juan Merchan denied Trump’s request to overturn the conviction, the sentencing has been postponed indefinitely.
As Trump prepares for his presidency, legal battles continue to mount, raising questions about his future political prospects.