Former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll claims that former President Donald Trump ruined her image by branding her a liar after she accused him of sexual assault, and a jury has now granted her an additional $83.3 million.
In a trial that Trump frequently attended, the jury of seven men and two women returned a verdict on Friday. Trump left the room during Carroll's attorney's closing remarks but returned later.
It was the second time in nine months that a jury returned a verdict related to Carroll’s claim that a flirtatious, chance encounter with Trump in 1996 at a Bergdorf Goodman store ended violently. She said Trump slammed her against a dressing room wall, pulled down her tights, and forced himself on her.
In May, a different jury awarded Carroll $5 million. 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.
Trump skipped the first trial. He later expressed regret for not attending and insisted on testifying in the second trial, though the judge limited what he could say, ruling he had missed his chance to argue that he was innocent. He spent only a few minutes on the witness stand Thursday, denying attacking Carroll, then left court grumbling “This is not America.”
In a trial that Trump frequently attended, the jury of seven men and two women returned a verdict on Friday. Trump left the room during Carroll's attorney's closing remarks but returned later.
It was the second time in nine months that a jury returned a verdict related to Carroll’s claim that a flirtatious, chance encounter with Trump in 1996 at a Bergdorf Goodman store ended violently. She said Trump slammed her against a dressing room wall, pulled down her tights, and forced himself on her.
In May, a different jury awarded Carroll $5 million. 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.
Trump skipped the first trial. He later expressed regret for not attending and insisted on testifying in the second trial, though the judge limited what he could say, ruling he had missed his chance to argue that he was innocent. He spent only a few minutes on the witness stand Thursday, denying attacking Carroll, then left court grumbling “This is not America.”
