E. Jean Carroll, the recipient of a $5 million damages award from former President Donald J. Trump, is seeking further compensation due to his derogatory comments on a CNN program the day after the verdict.
In a submission to the federal court in Manhattan, Carroll is requesting an increase in the financial repercussions for Trump, who was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation on May 9. The jury ordered Trump to pay $2 million for sexual abuse and $3 million for defamation to Carroll.
In 2019, Carroll filed a separate defamation lawsuit against Trump, overseen by the same judge who presided over the civil trial. This lawsuit stems from Trump’s 2019 remarks when Carroll accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Despite delays caused by appeals, the case remains unresolved.
Carroll’s attorney disclosed in a letter to the judge that Trump had threatened to retaliate against Carroll by filing a lawsuit or seeking sanctions. Trump, actively campaigning to regain the presidency, appeared on CNN to dismiss Carroll’s account as “fake” and a “made-up story.” Despite evidence of their acquaintance captured in photographs, he insisted that he had never met Carroll, labeling her a “wack job” and referring to the civil prosecution as a “rigged deal.”
The court filing argues that Trump’s defamatory statements reflect his deep-seated malice and intense hatred towards Carroll after the verdict. It asserts that such behavior warrants a significant award of punitive damages to punish Trump, deter him from further defamation, and discourage others from engaging in similar conduct.
However, Trump continued challenging the jury’s verdict, as his attorney filed an appeal notice after the decision. Carroll’s counsel highlights the importance of pursuing the pending defamation lawsuit, emphasizing the need to address the erosion of the justice system caused by unaddressed defamatory statements.
Carroll seeks to amend her 2019 defamation suit to incorporate the jury’s verdict against Trump and his remarks on CNN and his Truth Social platform. These additions are crucial to depict the impact of Trump’s repeated defamatory statements accurately.
In a recent interview, Carroll expressed her outrage at Trump’s comments on CNN, describing them as disgusting and harmful. She emphasizes the significance of holding Trump accountable and preserving the integrity of the verdict.
Carroll’s pursuit of additional damages demonstrates her resolve to address the harm caused by Trump’s defamatory rhetoric as the legal battle intensifies. The outcome of this ongoing legal dispute will have widespread implications, shaping the discourse on Carroll and Trump’s accountability and the pursuit of justice.
