Court dismisses Trump's appeal, upholds sexual assault case verdict
Agencies
31/12/2024
The US Federal Court of Appeals on Monday upheld the jury's verdict that found Donald Trump had sexually assaulted writer E. Jean Carroll. - AP Image
YORK: The U.S. Federal Court of Appeals on Monday upheld a jury's verdict that found Donald Trump had sexually assaulted writer E. Jean Carroll and rejected the U.S. president-elect's application for a retrial.
Trump challenged the US$5 million civil verdict by claiming the trial judge made many mistakes including allowing testimony from two other women who claimed Trump had sexually assaulted them.
The Court of Appeal found that the trial judge had not abused his discretion in deciding the evidence. Despite any wrongdoing, the court said the strength of Carroll's case assured that Trump's rights had not been compromised to the extent that a retrial should be held.
"Both E. Jean Carroll and I feel grateful for today's decision. We thank the Court of Appeal for its careful consideration of the arguments of both sides," said Roberta Kaplan, Carroll's lawyer.
Another jury had previously awarded $83.3 million in damages to 81-year-old Carroll after finding Trump, 78, defamed him by denying the sexual assault.
Trump has also filed an appeal against the decision.
Carroll claimed that Trump raped her at the Bergdorf Goodman store and then slandered her by denying the allegations and claiming that she (Carroll) was "not my type" and said Carroll invented the story to sell her book.
Trump denies all wrongdoing. He did not face a jail sentence as a result of the civil decision.
Although the jury found Trump guilty of sexual assault against Carroll, enough to hold him accountable for the charge of physical contact, they did not find Carroll proving that she had been raped.
Carroll filed a lawsuit last year under the "New York State Adult Victims Act," a state law that reopens the door for sexual assault allegations such as Carroll's case even though its statute of limitations has long since expired.
In the same development, Steven Cheung, who is also Trump's chief spokesman and incoming White House communications director, said more appeals would be made.
"The American people have re-elected President Trump with a huge mandate and they are demanding an immediate end to political abuse in our justice system as well as the immediate rescinding of all baseless prosecutions including the Democratic-funded 'Carroll Hoax' case.
"The appeal will continue. We look forward to the unification of this country under the new administration as President Trump restores America's majesty," Cheung said. - Agency
