In a recent trial, former President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay additional damages to E. Jean Carroll, a woman who accused him of sexual assault. The jury determined that Trump owes Carroll a staggering $83 million in addition to the previously awarded five million dollars.
Throughout the trial, it became evident that Trump's social media presence on Truth Social, a platform he founded before Elon Musk took over, provided a direct window into his thoughts and emotions. His feed was filled with relentless attacks on Carroll, the judge, and the case itself. However, Trump was not present in the courtroom when the verdict was delivered but reportedly left before it was announced.
The trial delved into Trump's failure to appear at the initial proceedings, which he claimed was due to the advice of a former attorney who is no longer on his legal team. The judge emphasized that this trial did not focus on determining whether Trump had sexually abused Carroll but rather on determining the amount of damages he would owe. Carroll's attorney argued for high damages to send a message to Trump, highlighting his wealth.
Considering Trump's deep pockets and reluctance to part with his money, the $83 million verdict is likely to provoke a strong reaction from him. Throughout his time in and out of office, Carroll's accusations have remained an ongoing sore point for Trump, and the magnitude of the damages awarded is unlikely to sit well with him.
It is expected that Trump will express his dissent on Truth Social through a series of posts, offering his perspective on the trial. Furthermore, given his aspirations for the presidency, it remains to be seen if he will address the verdict and its implications in future campaign events or interviews with sympathetic media outlets.
As of now, Trump still has campaign events scheduled, with a trip to Nevada planned for tonight. In the courtroom, despite not being present for the verdict, Trump's restless nature was evident, as he continued to mouth words while his attorneys presented their case.
It is noteworthy that the damages awarded to Carroll were specifically for comments made by Trump in 2019. During the trial, evidence was presented, including a recent town hall where Trump allegedly defamed Carroll and continued to denounce her. Carroll's attorneys sought a high punitive damage award to discourage Trump from further criticism and denials.
The amount of $83 million, deemed unusually high by Carroll's attorneys, was ultimately granted by the jury, signifying a significant victory for Carroll in her ongoing legal battle with Trump. It remains to be seen how Trump will react to this substantial financial blow and whether it will potentially alter his rhetoric and behavior in the future.
