Current:Home > NewsJudge reject’s Trump’s bid for a new trial in $83.3 million E. Jean Carroll defamation case -SecureNest Finance
Judge reject’s Trump’s bid for a new trial in $83.3 million E. Jean Carroll defamation case
View
Date:2025-04-18 11:36:27
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge in New York rejected Donald Trump’s request for a new trial on Thursday after a jury awarded $83.3 million in damages to a longtime magazine columnist who sued the former president for defamation for calling her claim that he had sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store a lie.
The judge rejected the former president’s claims that the compensatory and punitive damages awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll in January were excessive.
The January verdict came after Carroll, 80, an author and former advice columnist for Elle magazine, testified that Trump’s public statements about her had led to death threats.
Judge Lewis Kaplan said in his ruling Thursday that the jury was entitled to find that “the degree of reprehensibility” of Trump’s attacks against Carroll on social media was high.
“Far from being purely ‘defensive,’ there was evidence that Mr. Trump used the office of the presidency — the loudest ‘bully pulpit’ in America and possibly the world — to issue multiple statements castigating Ms. Carroll as a politically and financially motivated liar, insinuating that she was too unattractive for him to have sexually assaulted, and threatening that she would ‘pay dearly’ for speaking out,” Kaplan said.
The decision was the second time that a civil jury returned a verdict related to Carroll’s claim that an encounter with Trump in 1996 in a Bergdorf Goodman’s dressing room ended violently. She said Trump slammed her against a wall, pulled down her tights and forced himself on her.
A different jury awarded Carroll $5 million in May 2023. It found Trump not liable for rape, but responsible for sexually abusing Carroll and then defaming her by claiming she made it up. He is appealing that award as well.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said in a statement that she was “pleased though not surprised” by the decision from the judge, who is no relation.
A spokesperson for Trump attorney Alina Habba said she was confident that the decision would be overturned on appeal.
The decision came as Trump, the presumed Republican candidate for president, spent the day in a criminal courtroom where he is on trial for hush money payments allegedly made to an adult film star in a scheme to cover up negative stories Trump feared would hurt his 2016 presidential campaign. He has pleaded not guilty and says the stories were false.
veryGood! (88428)
Related
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Breakups are hard, but 'It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake' will make you believe in love again
- Chris Eubanks finds newfound fame after Wimbledon run. Can he stay hot ahead of US Open?
- Trevor Reed, who was released in U.S.-Russia swap in 2022, injured while fighting in Ukraine
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- 3 US Marines found dead inside car at North Carolina gas station near Camp Lejeune
- Shark Tank's Daymond John gets restraining order against former show contestants
- How artificial intelligence can be used to help the environment
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- An alliance of Indian opposition parties — called INDIA — joins forces to take on Modi
Ranking
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- 'Go time:' Packers QB Jordan Love poised to emerge from Aaron Rodgers' shadow
- Hundreds evacuated after teen girl sets fire to hotel sofa following fight with mom
- Notre Dame legend, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Lujack dies at 98
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Anchorage mayor wants to give homeless people a one-way ticket to warm climates before Alaska winter
- Samsung unveils foldable smartphones in a bet on bending device screens
- Northwestern football players to skip Big Ten media days amid hazing scandal
Recommendation
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
Anchorage mayor wants to give homeless people a one-way ticket to warm climates before Alaska winter
Car buyers bear a heavy burden as Federal Reserve keeps raising rates: Auto-loan rejections are up
Judge rejects U.S. asylum restrictions, jeopardizing Biden policy aimed at deterring illegal border crossings
Could your smelly farts help science?
Why Megan Fox Is Telling Critics to Calm Down Over Her See-Through Dress
Trump ally Bernard Kerik turned over documents to special counsel investigating events surrounding Jan. 6
Golden Fire in southern Oregon burns dozens of homes and cuts 911 service