United States: Jury Awards E. Jean Carroll $83.3 Million in Landmark Victory Against Trump
CFWIJ and WPF applauds the momentous win in the fight for justice and accountability.
Location: United States, New York
Date: January 29, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom expresses its unequivocal support for E. Jean Carroll and extends its wholehearted appreciation for the court's decision to grant her $83.3 million in the defamation lawsuit against former President Donald Trump. Carroll's allegations of sexual assault directed at Trump have resulted in a noteworthy victory for the cause of justice and the imperative of ensuring accountability. Moreover, this ruling constitutes a substantial setback for the former president's legal endeavors. We commend the court's resolute message, emphasizing that impunity shall not go unchallenged, and reaffirm our solidarity with E. Jean Carroll in her unwavering pursuit of accountability.
Former President Donald Trump has suffered a major setback as a jury recently awarded $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll, an American journalist, author and advice columnist, in a defamation lawsuit.
On June 21, 2019, preceding the release of her book titled "What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal," E. Jean Carroll penned an article in New York magazine wherein she made allegations against Donald Trump, accusing him of sexually assaulting her during the mid-1990s at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York City.
Combined with a previous $5 million sexual assault and defamation verdict from last year, Trump is now required to pay Carroll a total of $88.3 million. Trump has announced plans to challenge the decision through an appeal.
Upon hearing the verdict, the 80-year-old Carroll tightly held her lawyers' hands and smiled, later sharing an emotional embrace with her legal team. As she left the Manhattan federal courthouse, Carroll refrained from commenting directly but released a statement through her publicist expressing her satisfaction with the outcome.
“This is a great victory for every woman who stands up when she’s been knocked down and a huge defeat for every bully who has tried to keep a woman down,” Carroll's statement read.
“This is a great victory for every woman who stands up when she’s been knocked down and a huge defeat for every bully who has tried to keep a woman down”
Trump had been present at the trial earlier in the day, yet left the courtroom during Carroll's attorney's closing arguments. He returned later for his attorney's statements and part of the jury deliberation, departing the courthouse half an hour before the verdict was delivered.
Shortly after the jury's decision, Trump expressed his discontent, calling the outcome "absolutely ridiculous" in a statement. He further criticized the legal system, claiming it was being weaponized for political purposes.
Trump's lawyer, Alina Habba, attributed the verdict to the selection of juries in locations where his opponents knew they would be biased against him. Despite the setback, Habba reassured supporters that they would persist in their legal battles and ultimately triumph.
The conclusion of this trial coincides with Trump's ongoing pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination for the third time. Throughout his legal battles, he has sought to leverage these cases and his perceived vulnerability as evidence of a politicized system.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom wholeheartedly stands in solidarity with E. Jean Carroll and extends our unwavering support to all survivors of sexual assault. We commend the court's ruling, acknowledging its profound importance in sending a powerful message that impunity shall no longer be tolerated, specifically emphasizing the imperative of holding people in positions of power accountable for their actions.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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