Donald Trump found liable by New York jury for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll
A NEW York jury has found former president Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in a civil suit brought against him.
Journalist E. Jean Carroll, 79, sued Trump, 76, accusing him of battery for allegedly sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the 1990s.
After less than three hours of deliberation, the nine-person jury announced their verdict at 3pm on Tuesday, determining that Trump is liable for sexually abusing and forcibly touching Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman store in 1996.
However, he wasn’t found liable for rape.
Carroll also claimed that Trump defamed her by calling her accusations a “hoax” and saying that she made it up to make money.
The jury also found Trump liable for defaming her after making these remarks in the fall of 2022.
Carroll was awarded $5million in damages for winning the case and smiled as the jury read their verdict in a Manhattan court.
Trump called the verdict “a disgrace” and said that the trial was a “witch hunt.”
“I have absolutely no idea who this woman is. This verdict is a disgrace – a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time,” he exclaimed on Truth Social.
Trump’s campaign said the verdict will be appealed on the grounds of “unconstitutional silencing.”
The former president denied Carroll’s accusations and insisted that he didn’t defame her because he is telling the truth.
He did not, however, defend himself in the civil suit by testifying against Carroll.
Carroll took the stand for three days. While Trump was nowhere to be found in the courtroom during the trial, however, he was not obligated to be there.
Although it’s been decades since the alleged rape, Caroll was able to sue Trump in November 2022 under the AdultSurvivors Act.
The Act was passed in May 2022 and allows sexual assault victims to file civil lawsuits even if the statutes of limitations has expired.
Trump was never criminally charged for the alleged incident.
More to follow…For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at Sun Online.The-sun.com is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheUSSun.