Fact Check: "In 2023, a jury in Manhattan federal court found Donald Trump liable for battery and defamation against E. Jean Carroll, stemming from an incident in the 1990s."
What We Know
In May 2023, a federal jury in Manhattan found former President Donald Trump liable for battery and defamation against E. Jean Carroll. This ruling stemmed from Carroll's allegations that Trump sexually assaulted her in a department store in the mid-1990s. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages, which included compensatory and punitive damages for both claims (NPR, Wikipedia).
The jury did not find Trump liable for rape, but they did conclude that he had sexually abused Carroll, which is a lesser legal standard than rape under New York law (Wikipedia, PBS). Carroll's initial defamation lawsuit against Trump began in 2019 after he publicly denied her allegations, claiming she was lying for personal gain (Wikipedia).
In addition to the 2023 verdict, Carroll had previously filed a second lawsuit in 2022, which included a battery claim under New York's Adult Survivors Act, allowing victims to file civil suits beyond the statute of limitations (Wikipedia).
Analysis
The claim that a jury found Trump liable for battery and defamation is accurate but requires clarification regarding the specifics of the jury's findings. The jury's decision was based on the preponderance of evidence, which is a lower standard than "beyond a reasonable doubt" used in criminal cases (NPR).
The sources used in this fact-check are credible, including major news outlets like NPR and BBC, as well as Wikipedia, which compiles information from various reliable sources. However, Wikipedia should be cross-referenced with primary sources for legal cases due to its collaborative nature. The NPR article provides a detailed account of the trial proceedings and the jury's verdict, while the Wikipedia entry offers a broader context, including the history of Carroll's allegations and the legal actions taken (NPR, Wikipedia).
It is important to note that while the jury found Trump liable for battery, they did not find him liable for rape as defined under New York law at the time. Instead, they found him liable for sexual abuse, which the judge clarified could be interpreted more broadly than the legal definition of rape (Wikipedia, PBS).
Conclusion
The claim is Partially True. While it accurately states that a jury found Donald Trump liable for battery and defamation against E. Jean Carroll, it does not specify that the jury did not find him liable for rape, which is a significant detail. The nuances of the jury's findings are essential for a complete understanding of the case.
Sources
- E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump - Wikipedia
- Trump found liable for battery, defamation against E. Jean ... - NPR
- Trump loses bid for appeals court to reconsider $5m loss ... - BBC
- Appeals court rejects Trump's bid to challenge $5 million E ... - ABC News
- Carroll v. Trump, No. 23-793 (2d Cir. 2024)
- Donald Trump Suffers Legal Blow in E. Jean Carroll Case - Newsweek
- Breaking down the verdict as jury finds Trump liable for ... - PBS
- NY appeals court rejects bid to overturn Trump's ... - The Independent
