Fact Check: "Trump is also appealing a separate defamation award of $83 million to Carroll."
What We Know
E. Jean Carroll, an author, has been involved in two significant lawsuits against former President Donald Trump, primarily concerning allegations of sexual assault and subsequent defamation. The first lawsuit, known as Carroll I, resulted in a jury awarding Carroll $5 million in damages for defamation and sexual abuse in May 2023. The second lawsuit, Carroll II, concluded with a jury awarding Carroll an additional $83 million in January 2024 for further defamation stemming from Trump's comments made during his presidency (source-1, source-2). Both cases are currently under appeal, with Trump actively seeking to overturn these verdicts (source-3).
Analysis
The claim that Trump is appealing the $83 million defamation award to Carroll is supported by multiple credible sources. The Associated Press reported that Trump's legal team has posted a bond of approximately $92 million to cover the judgment while the appeal is processed, confirming that the appeal is indeed underway (source-2). Additionally, ABC News and other outlets have reiterated that Trump is appealing this specific judgment, which was awarded following a jury's decision in January 2024 (source-3, source-4).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they include established news organizations and legal documentation from court proceedings. The Associated Press is known for its rigorous fact-checking standards, and ABC News is a reputable national news outlet. Furthermore, the details provided in these reports align with the official court records regarding the appeals process and the amounts involved.
Conclusion
The claim that "Trump is also appealing a separate defamation award of $83 million to Carroll" is True. The evidence from multiple reliable sources confirms that Trump is actively appealing the jury's decision that awarded Carroll this substantial amount in damages for defamation. The ongoing legal proceedings and the posting of a bond to cover the judgment further substantiate this claim.
Sources
- E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump
- Trump attorneys post bond for $83.3 million award to E. Jean Carroll
- Appeals court rejects Trump's bid to challenge $5 million E. Jean Carroll judgment
- Appeals court deals Trump blow in challenge to E. Jean Carroll verdict
- Trump loses appeal to overturn $5 million loss to E. Jean Carroll
- Court rules against Donald Trump in effort to retry E. Jean Carroll case
- Appeals court deals Trump blow in challenge to E. Jean Carroll verdict
- Appeals court won't rehear Trump's appeal of E. Jean Carroll case