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Former President Donald Trump has lost his appeal in the defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll. On Wednesday, a federal appeals court in New York rejected Trump's request for a rehearing of the $83 million judgment against him. This decision marks another chapter in the ongoing legal battle between Trump and Carroll, which began in 2019.
In 2023, a jury awarded Carroll $5 million after concluding that Trump sexually abused her in the 1990s and defamed her when he denied the allegations. A year later, a separate jury awarded Carroll $83 million after Trump made further denials. Trump's legal team continues to label the allegations as "hoaxes" and plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied Trump's request for an "en banc" hearing, where all judges would have reviewed the case. According to AP News, Judge Denny Chin supported the decision, noting that Trump's statements led to Carroll being harassed and humiliated.
Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating that Carroll is eager for the case to conclude so she can obtain justice. Meanwhile, Trump's legal team criticized the ruling, arguing that the case represents a "manifest miscarriage of justice" and plans to challenge it in the Supreme Court.
The case has drawn significant attention due to its implications for presidential immunity and the scope of presidential duties. As reported by USA Today, Trump's team argues that the Department of Justice should have been substituted for him as a defendant, as his statements were made within the scope of his presidential duties.
The ongoing legal proceedings continue to unfold, with the Supreme Court's decision on whether to hear the case still pending. Trump's legal team remains determined to fight the judgment and seek a resolution in their favor.
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