In its ruling, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals explicitly rejected Trump’s allegations that trial judge Lewis A. Kaplan had spoiled the trial by permitting two other women who had accused Trump of sexual abuse to testify.
A federal appeals court has upheld a jury’s finding that President Donald Trump is liable for the sexual abuse of a former newspaper columnist.
According to The Associated Press, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a written opinion upholding the $5 million award that the Manhattan jury granted plaintiff E. Jean Carroll.
In 2023, Carroll testified that Trump had turned a “friendly” encounter in a New York City department store into a violent attack. The incident, which allegedly took place sometime in 1995, occurred inside of a dressing room.
Trump has repeatedly denied any and all knowledge of the incident; he also denied ever meeting Caroll. However, Trump did offer testimony at a related defamation trial.
In its ruling, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals explicitly rejected Trump’s allegations that trial judge Lewis A. Kaplan had spoiled the trial by permitting two other women who had accused Trump of sexual abuse to testify.
Kaplan also let the jury view recordings from an “Access Hollywood” tape, in which Trump bragged about being able to grope women because, when someone is a star, “you can do anything.”
In its decision, the appeals panel noted that this controversial evidence was likely relevant to the trial.
“In each of the three encounters, Mr. Trump engaged in an ordinary conversation with a woman he barely knew, then abruptly lunged at her in a semi-public place and proceeded to kiss and forcefully touch her without her consent,” the court said. “The acts are sufficiently similar to show a pattern.”
The “Access Hollywood” tape, the judges said, was “directly corroborative” of the women’s testimony.
“We conclude that Mr. Trump has not demonstrated that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings,” the 2nd Circuit Court said. “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.”
Roberta Kaplan, an attorney representing Carroll, said that both she and her client are pleased by the court’s verdict.
“Both E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today’s decision,” said Kaplan, who is not related to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. “We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties’ arguments.”
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for President Trump, emphasized that Trump’s re-election constitutes “an overwhelming mandate,” necessitating an “immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax, which will continue to be appealed.”
Sources
An appeals court upholds a $5 million award in a sexual abuse verdict against President-elect Trump
Court rejects Trump appeal in E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse and defamation case
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