Fact Check: Trump Ordered to Pay E. Jean Carroll $83 Million for Defamation
What We Know
A New York jury has ordered former President Donald Trump to pay a total of $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for defaming her after she accused him of sexual assault. The jury awarded Carroll $65 million in punitive damages, $11 million for reputational harm, and an additional $7.3 million for other damages (NPR). This ruling follows a previous defamation case in which Trump was ordered to pay Carroll $5 million for a separate instance of defamation (ABC News). The jury's decision was based on Trump's public statements, which the court found to have damaged Carroll's credibility as a columnist (Forbes).
Analysis
The evidence presented during the trial included testimony from Carroll herself, who described the impact of Trump's statements on her life and career. She stated that the former president's denial of her allegations led to a significant decline in her reputation and an increase in threats and harassment directed at her (NPR). Trump's legal team argued that the damages should not be attributed to him, suggesting that Carroll had received both support and criticism following her allegations (NPR). However, the jury was tasked solely with determining the amount of damages after Judge Lewis Kaplan had already ruled that Trump had defamed Carroll (NPR).
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high. NPR, ABC News, and Forbes are established news organizations known for their journalistic standards. They provided detailed accounts of the trial proceedings and the jury's verdict, ensuring that the information is credible and well-supported.
Conclusion
The claim that Trump was ordered to pay E. Jean Carroll $83 million for defamation is True. The jury's verdict was based on clear evidence of defamation, and the amount awarded reflects the serious nature of the damages caused by Trump's statements. Given the court's prior rulings and the substantial evidence presented during the trial, the verdict aligns with the legal findings regarding Trump's liability.
Sources
- Donald Trump ordered to pay millions to E. Jean Carroll for ... (https://www.npr.org/2024/01/26/1226626397/trump-defamation-trial)
- Appeals court says DOJ cannot represent Trump ... - ABC News (https://abcnews.go.com/US/appeals-court-doj-represent-trump-appeal-jean-carroll/story?id=122989566)
- Appeals Court Shuts Down Trump Effort To Kill Case (https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/06/18/appeals-court-shuts-down-trump-effort-to-kill-83-million-e-jean-carroll-case/)
