A federal judge rejected Mr. Trump’s appeal, upholding a fine of more than $83 million in the defamation case against former journalist Jean Carroll.
Lewis Kaplan, federal judge of the Manhattan district in New York, on April 25 decided to refuse the request to hear the appeal of the defamation lawsuit between journalist E. Jean Carroll and former president Donald Trump. Mr. Kaplan also did not agree to cancel the old judgment, maintaining the $83.3 million that Mr. Trump needed to compensate the former Elle magazine reporter.
The judge rejected Mr. Trump’s argument that the jury in the previous trial set a too high fine or an unconvincing verdict because of some negligence in the civil lawsuit process.
Former US President Donald Trump in Maryland on February 24. Image: AFP
According to Kaplan, more than 100 million Americans witnessed Mr. Trump attack Ms. Carroll both inside and outside the trial. The former president also clearly showed “hostility and contempt” for the court throughout the lawsuit, often saying the words “fraud” and “witch hunt” in court, voluntarily leaving the courtroom when the lawyer Ms. Carroll’s argument.
“Based on those special circumstances, there is a basis to believe that the fine is completely consistent with the constitution,” Judge Kaplan argued.
Ms. Carroll, 80 years old, accused Mr. Trump of sexually assaulting her when the two met at a shopping center in New York in 1996. Mr. Trump denied, claiming that Ms. Carroll fabricated the story.
After Ms. Carroll filed three lawsuits and one appeal from Mr. Trump, the jury in the civil trial in New York on January 26 concluded that the former president defamed the honor of former journalist Carroll and had to pay compensation. 65 million USD.
The jury also concluded that Mr. Trump was responsible for compensating damages and restoring Ms. Carroll’s honor, with an additional amount of $18.3 million. The total amount Mr. Trump is obliged to compensate Ms. Carroll is 83.3 million USD, far exceeding the 10 million USD she requested.
Mr. Trump objected to Judge Kaplan’s decision, saying the ruling was “contrary to long-standing constitutional principles” and vowed to continue to appeal.
Ms. Carroll’s lawyer supported Judge Kaplan’s decision to refuse an appeal, saying the $83.3 million compensation was “completely reasonable.”
Name (According to Reuters)
