Trump ordered to compensate journalist E. Jean Carroll in historic $83.3 million defamation verdict
The case concerned statements made by him in 2019, during his presidential term. Trump accused Carroll of lying, an accusation a judge found defamatory. In a previous verdict, American justice determined that Carroll was a victim of sexual abuse by the former president of the United States in the 1990s.
Donald Trump must pay E Jean Carroll more than $80 million -Photo Reproduction/Getty/Alamy
In the latest twist in a case that has captured media attention in recent years, the former president of the United States, Donald J. Trump was convicted to pay historic compensation of US$83.3 million(R$409 million) in compensation to journalist E. Jean Carroll for defamation. The verdict, announced this Friday (26) by a court in New York, marks a significant chapter in the legal battle between Trump and Carroll, who alleges she was defamed by the former president in 2019.
Or Case Carroll vs. Trump
The lawsuit began in 2019, when E. Jean Carroll, an advice columnist and author, accused Donald Trump of having sexually assaulted her in a dressing room store of Bergdorf Goodman departments in Manhattan In the 1990s. In response to these allegations, Trump vehemently denied any involvement with Carroll and suggested that she was lying to gain publicity, that is, that she fabricated her narrative in order to boost sales of her memoir.
Trump's statements led Carroll to sue him for defamation in November 2019, claiming that his words had caused damage to his professional reputation. In May, during the first trial related to the case, a jury awarded Carroll compensation of approximately US$5 million (R$24.5 million). The decision was made after the jury concluded that Trump had sexually abused the writer and subsequently defamed her in 2022, claiming that she had invented the story.
During the trial, Carroll stated that he had not contacted the police or a hospital after the incident. She also highlighted that she shared the story in her book, being motivated by the Me Too movement, which encourages reporting of sexual abuse."It took me a long time to realize that being silent doesn't work," she said.The legal battle between the two has played out in the courts in recent years, finally resulting in the verdict handed down this Friday.
The Verdict and Historic Compensation
The court ruled in favor of Carroll, stating that Trump's statements were false and defamatory. The compensation of US$83.3 million is seen as one of the largest ever awarded in a defamation case in the United States. Jurors found that Trump caused significant harm to Carroll's reputation and career with his public statements.
The verdict was handed down in less than three hours by the jury, made up of seven men and two women. The amount granted exceeded the expectations of Carroll, who requested about $10 million (R$49 million). The jury decided to award him US$18.3 million (R$89.96 million) in compensatory damages and approximately US$65 million (R$320 million) in punitive damages. After Friday's ruling, Carroll declared that the punitive payoffs are justified, in part, as a measure to prevent Trump from reiterating his denials.
Proceedings Against Trump
Trump frequently reiterates that the lawsuits he faces are being driven by the Democrats, Joe Biden's party. At the moment, he is involved in four criminal cases, facing a total of 91 criminal charges. Trump marks a historic milestone as the first former president of the United States to be criminally charged. Among the cases against the American president, one of electoral subversion and a case with 34 charges related to an alleged bribery to porn actress Stormy Daniels stands out. All charges relate to falsification of business records as established by Article 175 of the New York Penal Law. These charges include:
Violation of electoral laws - The most serious accusation against Trump refers to the payment of US$130,000 made by Cohen to silence a porn actress, characterized as an illegal contribution to his presidential campaign in 2016.
Electoral fraud - The Prosecutor's Office also accused Trump of committing electoral fraud, arguing that he used campaign funds through Cohen to buy the actress' silence.
Conspiracy to commit electoral fraud - Additionally, the former American president faces charges of conspiracy to commit electoral fraud, alleging that he and Cohen collaborated to violate electoral laws.
Obstruction of justice - The Prosecutor's Office also holds Trump responsible for obstruction of justice, alleging that he tried to hide the case involving Daniels and the payment made to her.
False testimony - The former American president is accused of false testimony, as the Prosecutor's Office states that he denied having knowledge about the payment to the actress.
Corruption - The Prosecutor's Office also accuses Trump of the crime of corruption, alleging that he used his power as president to cover up the case.
Bank fraud - Additionally, Trump is being accused of concealing bank fraud practices.
The criminal case involving Trump, related to his attempts to challenge the 2020 election results (electoral subversion), is scheduled to take place on March 4, 2024. The date was determined by US federal judge Tanya Chutkan, responsible for presiding over the case in Washington. This trial is part of a set of four criminal trials that the former president is facing.
