A federal appeals court in New York upheld a civil jury's decision mandating that former President Donald Trump pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for his repeated defamation through social media attacks and public statements following her allegations of sexual assault against him. This ruling was delivered by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday, which dismissed Trump's appeal concerning the defamation award. The court described the jury's damage awards as “fair and reasonable.”

The three-judge panel emphasized the severity of Trump's conduct, noting that the case record supports the trial judge's assessment of its "remarkably high" level of reprehensibility. The court highlighted that Carroll had endured hundreds of death threats in the aftermath of Trump's statements, which contributed to the court's justification for the substantial punitive damages, including a specific award of $65 million.

Trump had argued that the damages awarded were excessively high and requested a new trial after the Supreme Court extended presidential immunity. However, the appeals court firmly rejected his arguments, asserting that the extraordinary nature of Trump's attacks against Carroll justified the significant financial penalties imposed.

Trump's legal representatives responded through a spokesperson, claiming that the ruling represented the political weaponization of the judicial system and termed the proceedings as a “Democrat-funded travesty.” They indicated that the case might advance to the Supreme Court for further review.

The court’s ruling included a detailed analysis of Trump’s actions, revealing “ample evidence” of his reckless disregard for Carroll’s well-being. He had characterized her as a politically and financially motivated liar and made insinuating remarks about her attractiveness, suggesting that she could not have been sexually assaulted by him. These actions, combined with his public statements, were considered highly detrimental to Carroll's reputation and safety.

Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, welcomed the 2nd Circuit's decision, affirming that it underscored Carroll's truthfulness and contradicted Trump's claims. Kaplan remarked that they hoped the appellate process would now come to an end, bringing relief to her client, who has faced significant threats and professional consequences due to the ordeal.

During the trial, Carroll testified about her fears for personal safety, citing the impact of death threats and the loss of her long-standing career at Elle magazine following the attacks from Trump. The case highlighted two separate defamation awards, the second and larger award being the focal point of this ruling. It was initially triggered by Carroll's allegations of sexual assault in her 2019 memoir, in which she recounted a harrowing incident involving Trump at a Manhattan department store in 1996.

Carroll detailed the attack, which she described as a violent struggle, stating that Trump had forcibly assaulted her in a dressing room. Despite the jury finding Trump liable for sexual abuse in a separate trial, they did not classify it as rape under New York law. Trump has continuously denied the occurrence of the assault, claiming that Carroll fabricated her allegations to promote her book.

Following the first trial, a new jury convened to solely address the damages related to Trump's defamatory statements made during his presidency in 2019. Trump, who was absent at the initial trial, attended this subsequent trial, where he framed the lawsuit as part of a broader campaign to undermine his presidential aspirations.

His defense team also expressed concerns over certain judicial decisions, notably a prohibition against presenting arguments of his innocence during the damages trial. The trial judge maintained that the issue had already been resolved in the earlier proceedings. The appeals court affirmed this position, stating that the trial judge acted appropriately, and that the jury's damage awards were consistent with the severe and extraordinary circumstances of the case. The 2nd Circuit observed that Trump's attacks on Carroll intensified over the years, including statements made during the trial, further complicating his defense.