Writer E Jean Carroll has won US$5 million in damages from a civil case against Donald Trump.
“Today, the world finally knows the truth,” Carroll said in a statement. “This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.”
The former Elle advice columnist alleged that Trump raped her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in 1995 or 1996 and then defamed her on his truth social platform in October 2022 by denying it happened and calling her a liar.
After three hours of deliberation, a nine-member jury, made up of three women and six men, found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation against Carroll but stopped short of ruling that he raped her.
As this was a civil case and not a criminal case, the only legal sanction Trump will face is financial– Carroll will be awarded a total of US$5 million.
This marks the first time a former US president has been branded a sexual predator.
At the beginning of the trial, Carroll testified that Trump’s attack had made it impossible for her to engage in future romantic partnerships, saying she could barely look at a man she was interested in. She also said Trump destroyed her reputation after calling her a liar, leading Elle magazine to fire her after 27 years.
“I’m here because Donald Trump raped me and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen,” Carroll said. “He lied and shattered my reputation. I’m here to try and get my life back.”
Absent from the civil trial, including when the verdict was read, Trump voiced outrage on his truth social platform, writing in all capital letters: “I have absolutely no idea who this woman is. This verdict is a disgrace– a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time!”
In Trump’s video deposition taken last October, he was shown a well-known black and white photograph of himself with Carroll and, at one point in the video, Trump mistook Carroll for his ex-wife Marla Maples. He then acknowledged that the photo suggests he met Carroll at least once, and he had previously stated he could not have raped Carroll because she was “not my type”.
At closings jurors were also shown infamous video footage of Trump’s “Access Hollywood” tape where he describes how he aggressively makes moves on women without their consent.
While cross-examining Carroll, Trump’s attorney, Joseph Tacopina focused on asking why she had not screamed or called the police at the time of the alleged assault. Tacopina also said he would disprove her allegation by showing Carroll had conspired to accuse Trump because she “hated” his politics.
While Trump’s legal team was unsuccessful, Professor of Psychology at the University of Denver, Anne P. DePrince explains that these lines of questioning reinforced common myths about sexual assault and that research has shown “people respond in diverse ways when they experience traumatic events, including sexual assault”, and that “women have many reasons for disclosing- or not disclosing- sexual harassment and assault”.
During her testimony, the now 79-year-old Carroll– who was about 52-years-old at the time of the alleged assault– said she waited to come forward because she was a “member of the silent generation”.
“Women like me were taught and trained to keep our chins up and to not complain,” she said.
“The fact that I never went to the police is not surprising for someone my age.”
And given the consequences of women who come forward with sexual assault allegations, Carroll was asked if she regretted accusing Trump.
“I regretted this about 100 times but, in the end, being able to get my day in court finally is everything,” she said.
Trump’s lawyer, Joseph Tacopina told reporters outside the federal courthouse that Trump, who is campaigning to retake the White House in 2024, will appeal.