Trump Ordered to Pay $5 Million in Damages for Sexual Abuse and Defamation

In a landmark ruling, a federal jury in New York has found former US President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll, a writer and columnist, in the mid-1990s at a department store in New York. The jury, consisting of six men and three women, arrived at this decision after less than three hours of deliberation on Monday. However, the former president was found not liable for raping Carroll in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman, according to the BBC.

The verdict marks the first time that the former President has been found legally responsible for a sexual assault. The jury determined that Trump defamed Carroll by calling her accusations “a hoax and a lie.” As a result, they ordered him to pay $5 million in damages to the writer.

In a written statement following the verdict, Carroll expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, saying, “Today, the world finally knows the truth. This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.”

Trump’s legal team has indicated that they plan to appeal the decision. The former President has consistently denied all allegations of sexual misconduct made against him.