A federal judge has denied former President Donald Trump’s request for a new trial in the civil suit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, who was awarded an $83.3 million judgment by a jury that found Trump liable for defamation in January. The judge also denied a request to strike the damages in the case, which Trump had called “entirely out of proportion” with Carroll’s reputational injury. Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, stated that they categorically disagree with the decision and intend to appeal, citing long-standing constitutional principles and the ongoing legal battles in the country.
In his request for a new trial, Trump listed grievances about the trial and pretrial decisions, including the exclusion of evidence related to his “state of mind” when he defamed Carroll. Carroll, a longtime advice columnist, wrote a story in 2019 accusing Trump of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s. Trump denied the allegations, calling Carroll a “whack job” and claiming he had never met her. He argued that the jury could not have reasonably concluded that Carroll suffered damages as a result of his comments, as they were made five hours after the story was published, pointing to a trickle of negative feedback Carroll received during that time.
Carroll’s attorneys countered that she was subject to a sustained deluge of derision and threats after Trump’s comments, leading to the jury’s findings that Trump’s statements were false, defamatory, and made with malice. The judge, Lewis Kaplan, wrote that Trump’s argument ignored the fact that the defamatory statements were viewed by millions of people, further supporting the jury’s decision. The judge’s 18-page decision emphasized that Trump’s arguments were without merit both legally and factually, upholding the jury’s verdict and the damages awarded to Carroll.
Despite the judge’s ruling, Trump’s legal team remains confident that the decision will be overturned by the Second Circuit. They maintain that the judgment ignores constitutional principles and reflects the ongoing legal battles across the country. The case highlights the complexities of defamation lawsuits involving public figures and the challenges of proving reputational harm in the digital age. The denial of Trump’s request for a new trial underscores the court’s support for the jury’s findings and the damages awarded to Carroll, signaling a potential continuation of the legal battle between the former president and his accuser.
