Former US President Donald Trump Found Guilty Of Sexually Abusing E Jean Carroll

A jury found former United States President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing E Jean Carroll in 1996. The jury ordered Trump to pay 5 million dollars in damages to the former columnist.

E Jean Carroll had accused Trump of raping her in the 1990s and then defaming her by calling her a liar. The jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse rather than rape.

Suggested Reading: Donald Trump Raped Me: Writer E Jean Carroll Testifies In New York Court

Donald Trump Convicted

As per reports, the verdict was split as the jurors rejected Carroll's claim that Trump raped her and found him liable for sexual abuse. The jurors also found the former president liable for defaming Carroll over her allegations.

Carroll was awarded 2 million dollars for Trump's sexual abuse, 20,000 dollars in punitive damages. For defamation, the jurors awarded Carroll a million dollars for Trump's defamatory statement, 1.7 million dollars for harm to her reputation, and 280,000 dollars in punitive damages.

The verdict was announced three hours after deliberations began in the New York City federal courtroom. According to the Associated Press, Carroll could be seen hugging supporters and smiling through tears after the verdict was announced.

Trump did not attend the civil trial and was not present when the verdict was read. After the verdict, he took to social media and called the verdict a "disgrace" and said it marked a "continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time".

E Jean Carroll, one of more than a dozen women who have accused Trump of sexual assault or harassment went public with her allegation in 2019. In her statement, Carroll said that she sued Trump to clear her name and get her life back.

Carroll said, "This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed."

The jurors heard from Jessica Leeds, who testified that Trump groped her against her will on a flight in the 1970s and from Natasha Stoynoff, who claimed Trump forcibly kissed her against her will.

The jury also saw an Access Hollywood hot-mic recording of Trump speaking about kissing and grabbing women without their consent.

Trump is also fighting a New York criminal case related to hush money payments made to the adult film star Stormy Daniels.