In a recent ruling, a federal judge denied former President Donald Trump’s request for a new trial or for the $83.3 million defamation ruling against him to be thrown out in a case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. This marks another legal setback for Trump, who had argued that the court made errors in excluding evidence and instructing the jury on common law malice, as well as claiming that the damages awarded were excessive and should be reduced. However, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan dismissed these arguments as lacking merit and contrary to common sense.
The defamation case stemmed from Carroll’s accusation that Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1990s, which he denied by saying she wasn’t his “type” and that he didn’t know her. In response, Carroll filed a defamation suit, alleging that Trump’s comments caused her emotional distress and damage to her reputation. In January, a jury sided with Carroll and awarded her $83.3 million in damages, on top of the $5 million awarded in a separate case where Trump was found liable for sexual assault and defamation.
Carroll’s lawyer, Robbie Kaplan, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that the award was justified due to Trump’s ongoing defamation and mistreatment of his client. The ruling cited Trump’s actions as endangering Carroll’s health and safety, while derailing her successful career as an advice columnist and author. Trump’s legal team has yet to comment on the decision.
The significant sum of $91.6 million was paid by Trump in March to secure a bond guaranteeing his ability to pay the defamation judgment, plus interest. The bond payment was underwritten by insurance company The Chubb Corporation, though details on how Trump secured the bond and whether he put up any of his properties as collateral remain unclear. Forbes estimates Trump’s net worth to be around $4.9 billion, with approximately $413 million in cash before his bond payments.
In addition to the defamation ruling, Trump is currently facing legal challenges in other cases, including a trial related to hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. New York prosecutors have accused him of falsifying business records in connection to these payments. Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team was also engaged in a Supreme Court hearing on the question of whether he has immunity from criminal charges relating to his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Despite these legal battles, Trump’s net worth remains substantial, and his ongoing legal troubles continue to attract attention and scrutiny.
