Yes, in May 2023, a federal jury in New York found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, awarding her $5 million in damages.
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Key Details of the Verdict:
- Civil Liability, Not Criminal Conviction: This was a civil case, not a criminal trial. Trump was found "liable" (responsible) rather than "guilty" of a crime, as the statute of limitations for criminal charges had passed.
- Sexual Abuse vs. Rape: The jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse (specifically, sexual battery), but did not find him liable for rape under New York's narrow legal definition of the term.
- Judge's Clarification: Following the verdict, Judge Lewis Kaplan clarified that based on the evidence, the act found by the jury met the common definition of rape, and that the accusation was "substantially true".
- Defamation: The jury found Trump liable for defamation for calling Carroll's allegations a "hoax" and a "lie".
- Second Trial ($83.3M): In January 2024, a second jury awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million in a separate defamation lawsuit against Trump.
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Appeals:
A federal appeals court upheld the $5 million verdict on December 30, 2024, and a separate appeals court upheld the $83.3 million judgment in September 2025. Trump has stated his intention to appeal the rulings.
And that appeals court rejected said appeal just this morning.
Next?