Former US President Donald J Trump has been ordered by a Federal court to pay $83.3 million (approximately FCFA 50.3 billion) in compensation to E. Jean Carroll, a woman he is accused of defaming during his presidency in 2019.
The verdict, announced on Friday, stems from allegations of sexual assault made by Carroll in the 1990s.
The jury’s decision comes after a New York court had previously ordered Trump to pay $5 million to Carroll for both defamation and allegations of sexual abuse.
Trump, who had appealed the May 2023 ruling, has vowed to challenge this latest verdict as well.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Trump, absent during the ruling, dismissed it as part of a “Biden-directed witch hunt” targeting him and the Republican Party.
“Absolutely ridiculous! I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party,” he wrote on social media.
Trump went on to criticize the legal system, claiming it is being used as a political weapon and infringing on First Amendment rights.
“Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!” he added.
According to the court verdict, Trump is ordered to pay $11 million for reputational damage, $7.3 million for emotional harm, and a substantial $65 million for punitive damages.
E. Jean Carroll, a writer, accused Trump of tarnishing her reputation as a trustworthy journalist by denying her allegations of sexual assault in 2019.
In response to the court’s decision, Caroll hailed it as a “great victory for every woman who stands up when she’s been knocked down” and a “huge defeat for every bully who has tried to keep a woman down,” according to a statement quoted by The Washington Post.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Today’s verdict proves that the law applies to everyone in our country, even the rich, even the famous, even former presidents. There is a way to stand up to someone like Donald Trump, who cares more about wealth, fame, and power than respecting the law.”
The court’s ruling adds another layer of legal complexity to Trump’s political landscape as he continues to be a prominent figure within the Republican Party, vying for a return to the White House.
As the frontrunner for the Republican Party in the upcoming elections, Trump faces several legal battles and political challenges in his bid for a comeback.
