- Jury finds Donald Trump guilty of sexual abuse of defamation of E. Jean Carroll
- The panel, however, said that the complainant failed to prove that the former president raped her nearly three decades ago
- The jury did find the Republican businessman guilty of the less serious offenses
A jury found former United States President Donald Trump guilty of sexual abuse and defamation in the case against E. Jean Carroll and has awarded the victim $5 million in damages.
Despite the dozens of sexual misconduct allegations and cases against the Republican businessman, Carroll's case has been the only one successfully tested before a jury.
Jury Convicts Donald Trump of Sexual Abuse, Defamation
The jury, six men and three women, found that the 79-year-old Carroll, who is a former magazine writer, failed to prove that Trump raped her nearly three decades ago inside a dressing room in the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan.
However, the panel found that the Republican businessman had sexually abused the victim, which was considered a less serious offense. The jury could have also found the former president liable for the forcible touching of Carroll, as per the New York Times.
Furthermore, the panel found that the former president defamed Carroll in October last year when he posted on his Truth Social platform. In his post, the former president called the complainant "a complete con job" and "a Hoax and a lie." Recently, Trump's lawyer said his client planned to appeal the verdict.
Trump's lawyers did not call witnesses during the trial, and the former president never appeared in court. During the case, Carroll, who sued the Republican businessman last year, delivered a testimony regarding the alleged attack that she said would forever end her romantic life.
Carroll on Tuesday nodded along as a court clerk read the verdict aloud inside the courtroom, nodding more prominently as the clerk pronounced Trump liable for defamation. Later that day, she walked out with a large grin while holding her lawyer, Roberta A. Kaplan's, hand.
Jury Rewards E. Jean Carroll $5 Million in Damages
Despite the ruling, many do not expect the jury's ruling against Trump to affect the former president's base within the Republican Party. Within the GOP, the Republican businessman's supporters view the US legal system with skepticism and have continued to support him through all manners of controversy, according to BBC.
Two Republican senators responded to the recent verdict and highlighted the potential risks it creates for Trump's 2024 presidential run. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said the conviction would have a cumulative effect. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said he believes Trump will not be elected in the 2024 elections.
In a written statement following the verdict, Carroll said she filed the lawsuit against the former president to clear her name and get her life back. She said that the day that the jury voted together against Trump was the day that the world finally found out about the truth of the incident, said Aljazeera.
