Fact Check: "Trump $200 Million Fraud Judgement Sexual Abuse Judgement"
What We Know
The claim that Donald Trump has a "$200 million fraud judgment" related to sexual abuse is misleading. On May 9, 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, awarding her $5 million in damages for sexual abuse and defamation (AP News). However, this amount is significantly less than the $200 million stated in the claim.
In a separate legal matter, Trump was involved in a civil fraud case where a judge ordered him to pay a total of $454 million for inflating the value of his assets (BBC). This judgment is unrelated to the sexual abuse case and reflects different legal issues concerning his business practices.
Analysis
The claim conflates two distinct legal judgments against Trump. The $5 million awarded to E. Jean Carroll is specifically for sexual abuse and defamation, while the larger figure of $454 million pertains to a civil fraud case involving the Trump Organization (AP News, AP News).
The source of the claim appears to be a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the legal outcomes. The sexual abuse judgment is not $200 million, nor is it connected to the fraud case. The credibility of the sources discussing these judgments is generally high, as they include major news outlets and legal documents. However, the claim itself lacks a factual basis and misrepresents the nature and amounts of the judgments.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that Trump has a "$200 million fraud judgment sexual abuse judgment" is false. The actual judgment for sexual abuse is $5 million, and while there is a separate civil fraud judgment of $454 million, it is not related to the sexual abuse case. The conflation of these figures misrepresents the legal realities surrounding Trump.
