A jury has provided a verdict on former President Donald Trump who's part of a civil case involving accusations by E. Jean Carroll. The jury held Trump liable and he's now expected to pay her $5 million in damages. The case presented against Donald Trump was for alleged sexual abuse and defamation of E. Jean Carroll back in 1996.
It's important to know that the jury did not find Donald Trump guilty or not guilty of any rape accusations, the jury simply said he was liable for sexual abuse and forcible touching that injured Carroll, according to a report on USA Today. These are some small details that many publications need to make very clear as this case will likely be used against Trump in his hunt for reelection in the 2024 election.
USA Today further reported on Donald Trump's verdict, saying the following in a news article:
Trump is likely to appeal the verdict, saying on his Truth Social website that he still has "no idea" who Carroll is. "This verdict is a disgrace," the former president said in an all-caps post.
This is a civil case, not a criminal one. The jury was not asked to find Trump "guilty" or "not guilty," but whether he was liable for an attack on Carroll. They had several alternative verdicts to consider.
In written instructions, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan asked jurors to decide whether the "preponderance of the evidence" shows that Trump "raped," "sexually abused," or "forcibly touched" Carroll. It chose the second and third options.
The jury was also asked to determine if Trump's conduct was "willfully or wantonly negligent, reckless, or done with a conscious disregard of the rights of Ms. Carroll." It said yes.
Jurors also found that Trump's rhetorical attacks on Carroll in social media posts were "defamatory," "false," and made "with actual malice."
Carroll, a professional writer, had sued Trump for defamation, saying he lied about a 1996 sexual assault in a New York City department store and disparaged her character in doing so.
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/49955370423
