Donald Trump’s lawyers have requested a New York judge to suspend an $83.3 million defamation verdict against the former president. They argue that there is a high likelihood that the award, given to advice columnist E. Jean Carroll, will be reduced or eliminated on appeal. The verdict was awarded by a civil jury in late January after a trial focusing solely on damages, following a previous jury’s conclusion that Trump sexually abused and defamed Carroll.
The lawyers have asked Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to suspend the judgment until after Trump’s post-trial motions are resolved by March 7. They claim that the $65 million punitive award, in addition to $18.3 million in compensatory damages, is excessive and violates the Constitution and federal common law. They believe that post-trial motions could significantly reduce the amount of the judgment, if not eliminate it entirely.
Carroll first made her allegations public in 2019, claiming that Trump sexually attacked her in 1996. Trump has repeatedly denied the claims, calling them lies made to sell her book and damage him politically. During the trial, Trump referred to Carroll as a “whack job” and stated that she wasn’t “his type,” insinuating she was not attractive enough to assault. Carroll testified that she faced death threats from Trump supporters and saw her reputation tarnished by Trump’s continued remarks.
At the second trial, Trump attended regularly and briefly testified, often communicating with the jury through gestures and muttered comments. Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s lawyer, declined to comment on the recent developments. Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, criticized the January jury award as “egregiously excessive” and stated that it would not withstand an appeal. The lawyers are seeking to prevent Carroll from enforcing the judgment, citing its absurdity.
In addition to the defamation case, Trump has faced legal challenges in other matters. A state court judge in New York recently ordered Trump and his companies to pay $355 million in penalties for a scheme to deceive banks with inflated financial statements. With interest, Trump owes the state nearly $454 million. These legal battles have added to the controversies surrounding Trump, further complicating his post-presidential life. The outcome of the defamation verdict and other pending cases will likely have significant implications for Trump’s financial and legal future.
