A federal jury in New York City reached a decision Tuesday in the civil trial of E. Jean Carroll vs. former President Donald Trump.
The jury found that Trump was not guilty of rape, but was guilty of sexual abuse and forcible touching. The former president has been ordered to pay $5 million in damages.
The six men and three women on the jury began deliberating Tuesday morning on the ninth day of the civil trial, which took place in Manhattan federal court.
Carroll, 79, alleged that Trump raped her at the Bergdorf Goodman department store across the street from Trump Tower in Manhattan at some point in 1996. According to Carroll, the two had a chance run-in at the store, where Trump was shopping for a gift for “a girl.” She said he asked for her advice, and the two shopped together before he pushed her into a dressing room and assaulted her. Trump and his legal team insist that Carroll’s allegations are fabricated, with the former president’s initial reaction including an accusation that Carroll was motivated by wanting to sell copies of her book, according to Fox News.
That denial resulted in Carroll slapping Trump with a defamation claim, claiming that his response caused harm to her reputation.
Trump said on Truth Social prior to the jury’s final verdict that he plans to appeal the decision, claiming he was “silenced” throughout the trial.
“Waiting for a jury decision on a False Accusation where I, despite being a current political candidate and leading all others in both parties, am not allowed to speak or defend myself, even as hard nosed reporters scream questions about this case at me. In the meantime, the other side has a book falsely accusing me of Rape, & is working with the press,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday.
“I will therefore not speak until after the trial, but will appeal the Unconstitutional silencing of me, as a candidate, no matter the outcome!” he added.
Trump did not testify during the trial, but he was deposed on camera in October.
“She’s accusing me of rape, a woman that I have no idea who she is. It came out of the blue. She’s accusing me of rape — of raping her, the worst thing you can do, the worst charge,” Trump told Kaplan at his law office in October. “And you know it’s not true too. You’re a political operative also. You’re a disgrace. But she’s accusing me and so are you of rape, and it never took place. And I will tell you I made that statement, and I said, while it’s politically incorrect, she’s not my type. And that’s 100 percent true. She’s not my type.”
Trump was recently indicted in New York City on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.
He should appeal everything including the venue. Typical She Said-He Said. No actual evidence at all. Meanwhile keep sticking it to the loathsome Left who will break any Law, violate any Right, Steal any election, etc. etc.
Trump should counter sue her for the $5,000,000 for defamation! 😡 🇨🇦
I have never been to the store in question, however I have been in many more with changing rooms, none of which were soundproof. In fact the changing rooms I am familiar with are designed to be as open as possible without compromising privacy to discourage theft. It seems improbable that this woman would not scream and fight in such a manner to draw attention from customers and staff if she resisted an attack on her person. Furthermore, rape, sexual assault, and even forcing her into a changing booth (kidnapping) are all criminal felonies, none of which as far as I have read were ever charged nor a complaint lodged with law enforcement authorities. These accusations seem highly suspicious. Absent any further evidence I hope Trump prevails in his appeal.