In a landmark decision on Monday, the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed an $83.3 million defamation verdict in favor of writer E. Jean Carroll. This ruling solidifies a previous jury's conclusion that former President Donald Trump committed defamation by repeatedly denying Carroll's allegations of sexual assault which she made public in 2019.

The comprehensive judgment includes $18.3 million in compensatory damages coupled with a punitive sum of $65 million. The federal appeals panel dismissed Trump's attempt to reverse the financial award, standing by the jury's assessment as "fair and reasonable." The judgment comes after years of Trump's aggressive campaigns against Carroll's credibility and character, which the court noted had escalated in frequency and severity as the trial drew near.

Within the court's detailed opinion, the judges highlighted that Trump's statements maintained common themes: his insistence that Carroll fabricated the 1996 assault for personal gain, coupled with derogatory comments on her appearance. The court deemed the sizable damages award proportionate "in light of the extraordinary and egregious facts" presented during the trial.

Carroll's accusations detail a violent 1996 encounter in a Manhattan Bergdorf Goodman dressing room, where she claims Trump physically assaulted her. Despite Trump's defense invoking presidential immunity based on a 2024 Supreme Court decision granting him broad protection against criminal prosecution, the appeals court ruled such immunity irrelevant in this civil defamation case. They pointed out that Trump had forfeited any immunity claims by not presenting them earlier in the legal proceedings.

This appellate confirmation follows a separate $5 million verdict earlier this year, which also found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in a connected case arising from analogous accusations made in 2022.

Following the verdict, Trump's attorneys criticized Carroll, accusing her of exploiting the legal system for political motives and dubbing her legal actions as "Carroll Hoaxes." Conversely, Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, expressed satisfaction with the Second Circuit's findings, asserting that they validate Carroll's honesty and Trump's deceit. Kaplan anticipates a conclusion to the appellate process, hoping for swift justice.

This decision marks a significant chapter in a series of legal battles involving Trump, underscoring the judiciary's stance on issues of defamation and accountability, regardless of the defendant's political stature.