A New York jury on Friday ordered former President Donald Trump to pay a total of $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for ruining her credibility as an advice columnist when he called her a liar after she accused him of sexual assault.
The jury awarded Carroll $65 million in punitive damages, $11 million for the damage to her reputation and another $7.3 million. Trump is almost certain to appeal the verdict.
Despite the size of the penalty, the verdict was not unexpected. Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled even before the trial that Trump had in fact defamed Carroll. The jury only had to decide how much Trump owed her — not if he was liable. This is the second time Trump has been ordered pay Carroll; last year he was mandated by a jury to pay $5 million for a separate instance of defamation.
The award responded to the question: How much will it take to make Trump stop defaming E. Jean Carroll?
At least in this instance, the teflon Don was NOT above the law. Naturally, he plays the martyr but no reasonable person cold not believe that he would sexually assault a woman and his constant defamation is well documented.
We now look forward to the judgement regarding the Trump Company fraud case due this month.