Trump ordered to pay $83.3M

A New York jury on Friday ordered President Donald Trump to pay E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in damages for defaming her in 2019 by denying her allegation that he sexually abused her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s. The award breaks down to $65 million in punitive damages, $11 million for reputational harm, and $7.3 million in emotional distress compensation, following a three-day trial in federal court in Manhattan. Carroll's lawyers argued Trump's statements—calling her claim a "hoax" and "lie"—caused ongoing harm despite a prior jury's 2023 finding that he sexually abused her and defamed her, which led to a separate $5 million award. This is the second defamation verdict against Trump in Carroll's favor; the first stemmed from her 2019 New York magazine interview. Trump testified briefly via video deposition, reiterating denials, while Carroll took the stand describing death threats and public harassment after his comments. Jurors deliberated less than three hours before reaching the verdict. Trump responded on Truth Social, calling the case a "witch hunt" and "election interference," vowing to appeal. "This is a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in American history," he wrote, adding that he would post a bond if required during appeals. His legal team has 30 days to appeal to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The ruling piles onto Trump's legal exposures. On the same day, a federal judge in Florida reopened scrutiny of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, which alleges the agency over-assessed his taxes from his first term; the judge cited issues with a prior settlement dismissal. Trump's administration also faces pushback on a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund meant to compensate those claiming government persecution. Convicted Jan. 6 Capitol rioters are applying for payouts, drawing criticism from Democrats and some Republicans who call it a slush fund for political allies. Separately, a Georgia town sued over plans to convert a warehouse into a major ICE detention center under Trump's immigration push, arguing environmental and community impacts; the case could set precedents for local challenges to federal detention expansions. Carroll's win follows years of litigation: she first sued in 2022 under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily lifted statutes of limitations for sexual abuse claims. Trump countersued for defamation but lost on summary judgment. He has paid the prior $5 million award with interest after posting bond. Payment of the $83.3 million isn't immediate. Trump's lawyers will likely seek a bond or stay during appeals, which could extend 1-2 years. If upheld, it would mark one of the largest defamation awards in U.S. history against a sitting president. Hearings on post-trial motions are set for mid-June 2026 in Manhattan federal court.