Jury Orders Trump to Pay $83.3 Million in Defamation Lawsuit

Former President Donald Trump was ordered by a jury in a New York defamation lawsuit to pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll. The jury reached its verdict in less than three hours, and awarded $65 million in punitive damages and $18.3 million in compensatory damages.

Trump criticized the trial and stated he will be appealing the verdict, saying on Truth Social:

Absolutely ridiculous! I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party. Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!

Carroll wrote an advice column for Elle from 1993 to 2019, and claims her professional reputation was damaged when Trump allegedly defamed her prior to the 2020 presidential election when she brought forth accusations of assault from 23 years prior.