Trump Lost Appeal to Overturn $83M E. Jean Carroll Defamation Verdict/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ morning Edition/ A federal appeals court rejected Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the $83.3 million verdict awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll. The court ruled that Trump’s arguments, including presidential immunity, were insufficient. The ruling marks another legal defeat in Carroll’s multi-year battle against the former president.
Trump Verdict Appeal Quick Looks
- Appeals court ruling: Trump’s appeal to reverse an $83.3M verdict is denied.
- Immunity rejected: The court dismissed Trump’s presidential immunity claim.
- Previous judgment: A $5M verdict was upheld earlier this year.
- Defamation case origin: Trump denied Carroll’s 1996 rape allegation in 2019.
- Monetary breakdown: Carroll was awarded $18.3M in damages, $65M punitive.
- Judge’s consistency: Same judge presided over both Carroll trials.
- Carroll’s new book: She published a memoir titled “Not My Type.”
Deep Look: Trump Fails to Overturn $83M Verdict in E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case
NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2025 — President Donald Trump suffered a legal setback as a federal appeals court on Monday declined to overturn the $83.3 million jury verdict awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan unanimously ruled that Trump’s arguments for presidential immunity and other legal defenses did not warrant reversing the January 2024 judgment.
In its opinion, the three-judge panel emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and the jury’s rationale in awarding substantial damages.
“The jury’s duly rendered damages awards were reasonable in light of the extraordinary and egregious facts of this case,” the court stated.
The $83.3 million award came after Trump repeatedly denied Carroll’s 1996 rape accusation, initially made public in 2019. Carroll, now 81 and a former Elle magazine columnist, claimed that Trump assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room nearly three decades ago.
Trump’s denials in June 2019 and again in October 2022 on his Truth Social platform became the basis of the defamation lawsuit. He dismissed Carroll’s claims as fiction aimed at boosting her memoir sales, infamously stating she was “not my type.”
While a jury in a separate 2023 trial found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, it did not conclude that he had raped Carroll. That case ended with a $5 million award to Carroll. The 2nd Circuit upheld that earlier verdict in June 2024, reinforcing the credibility of Carroll’s legal claims.
The most recent verdict awarded $18.3 million for emotional and reputational harm and an additional $65 million in punitive damages—intended to deter similar conduct in the future.
In his appeal, Trump invoked the U.S. Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling that granted broad criminal immunity to presidents for official acts. He claimed that his comments about Carroll were made in his role as president and thus protected.
Trump also argued that failing to provide immunity in civil cases would weaken the executive branch’s independence. However, the appellate court disagreed, noting that Trump’s remarks about Carroll were personal in nature and not related to his official duties.
The panel also addressed Trump’s objections to procedural decisions made by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over both trials. Trump claimed that Judge Kaplan erred in excluding parts of his testimony, including his assertion that he was defending himself, his family, and the presidency. The appellate court found no reversible errors in the judge’s handling of the case.
Neither Trump’s legal team nor the White House offered an immediate comment on the ruling.
For Carroll, the court’s decision marks a major milestone in her long-running legal campaign against Trump. In June, she published a follow-up memoir titled “Not My Type: One Woman vs. a President,” which details her legal battles and personal journey through the high-profile case.
Trump continues to face multiple legal challenges amid his ongoing campaign for re-election. Despite the numerous indictments and lawsuits, he remains the Republican frontrunner for the 2024 presidential race.
As the legal landscape continues to evolve, this ruling further complicates Trump’s public image and underscores the judiciary’s stance on presidential accountability in civil matters.
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