Fact Check: E. Jean Carroll's Attorney Statement on Appeals Court Decision
What We Know
On October 27, 2023, a federal appeals court upheld a $5 million civil judgment against former President Donald Trump in a case brought by E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of sexual assault and defamation. Following the court's decision, Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, stated that Carroll is "very pleased with today’s decision" and emphasized that Trump's attempts to challenge the findings of two separate juries have failed, affirming his liability for sexual assault and defamation (AP News, BBC). This ruling came after a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s and subsequently defaming her in 2022 (Wikipedia).
Analysis
The claim that Roberta Kaplan stated E. Jean Carroll is pleased with the appeals court's decision is supported by multiple credible sources. Both the Associated Press and BBC reported Kaplan's statement directly, confirming that she expressed Carroll's satisfaction with the court's ruling (AP News, BBC). The statements made by Kaplan are consistent with the context of the appeals court's decision, which rejected Trump's request for a rehearing of the case, thereby upholding the jury's verdict from the previous trial.
The sources used in this fact-check are reliable news organizations with a history of covering legal matters and political news. The Associated Press is a well-established wire service known for its factual reporting, while the BBC is a reputable international broadcaster. Both outlets provided direct quotes from Kaplan, which adds to the credibility of the claim.
Conclusion
Verdict: True. Roberta Kaplan did indeed state that E. Jean Carroll is pleased with the appeals court's decision regarding Trump's liability for sexual assault and defamation. The evidence from credible news sources confirms that Kaplan's statement accurately reflects Carroll's reaction to the court's ruling.
