Trump Fumes Over $83 Million Order For Defaming ‘Raped Journalist’ Carroll

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Worthy News) – Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump fumed on Friday after he was ordered to pay more than $83 million for allegedly defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll who accused him of raping her in a New York department store decades ago.

Trump, who testified in the trial but was limited to what he could say as it was only about damages and not liability, said it was “absolutely ridiculous” that he was hit with such damages. He vowed to appeal the verdict, which could take months or more.

Trump noticed that the amount is on top of the $5 million Trump was previously ordered to pay after the first Carroll trial last year and accused current President Joe Biden of a witch-hunt.

“I fully disagree with both verdicts and will be appealing this whole Biden-directed witch-hunt focused on me and the Republican Party,” Trump wrote on his social media network Truth Social on Friday.

“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 wrote.

However, critics questioned his “witch-hunt” argument, saying Carroll sued Trump for libel in 2019, before he left office and while Biden was just one of the Democratic presidential candidates.

It was the second time in nine months that a civil jury returned a verdict related to Carroll’s claim that a flirtatious, chance encounter with Trump in 1996 at Bergdorf Goodman’s Fifth Avenue store in New York ended violently.

DRESSING ROOM

She said Trump slammed her against a dressing room wall, pulled down her tights, and forced himself on her, allegations Trump denied.

Trump made perceived defamatory remarks in 2019 after Carroll published an Elle magazine article accusing him of raping her in the New York department store.

In a reaction, Trump said at the time: “I’ve never met this person in my life,” Carroll is “not my type,” and the incident “never happened.”

Lawyers for the former president had asked the judge to toss out the lawsuit as Trump denied the encounter and said Carroll made the claim publicly for the first time to generate related book sales.

The book “What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal” describes the alleged assault by the now-former president and alleged attacks by other men.

They include former chief executive of broadcaster CBS, Les Moonves, who was forced out over allegations of sexual harassment, charges he vehemently denied.

On Friday, Jurors deliberated for nearly three hours before returning to the courtroom with their decision about Trump.

COMPENSATORY DAMAGES

They said the former president should pay $11 million in compensatory damages to repair Carroll‘s reputation, more than $7 million in other compensatory damages, and a massive $65 million in punitive damages.

So far, Trump has tapped his political action committee’s coffers to pay for his legal fees and other expenses from several indictments and civil trials.

Yet $83.3 million eclipses the amount in his political accounts, and the verdict on Friday may require Trump to reach into his pocket eventually, well-informed Trump watchers said.

Although Trump is a multi-billionaire, much of his wealth is linked to the value of his properties as a real-estate tycoon.

After the verdict, his rival for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, Nikki Haley, questioned Trump’s and President Biden’s abilities to run again for the nation’s top job this year. “Donald Trump wants to be the presumptive Republican nominee, and we’re talking about $83 million in damages,” she wrote on social media platform X.

“We’re not talking about fixing the border. We’re not talking about tackling inflation. America can do better than Donald Trump and Joe Biden,” Haley added.
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