Jurors found that Donald Trump sexually assaulted E Jean Carroll in the 1990s and later defamed her by calling her a liar, resulting in a $5 million damages award to the magazine writer.
Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, stated that the former United States (US) president, running for the presidency again in 2024, will appeal and won't need to pay as long as the case is being appealed.
In a civil trial, Carroll, aged 79, accused Trump, aged 76, of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan in 1995 or 1996.
Furthermore, Trump allegedly marred her reputation by denying her claims on his Truth Social platform in October 2022, calling it a "complete con job," "a hoax," and "a lie."
Manhattan federal court jury awarded $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages for sexual abuse, establishing liability for battery. However, they did not find evidence that Trump raped the victim.
Trump was a no-show for his trial starting 25 April. He called the verdict a "disgrace" on his Truth Social platform and denied knowing the woman involved.
Trump, US president from 2017 to 2021, leads opinion polls for the Republican presidential nomination, and has endured scandals which might have taken down other politicians.
His core supporters, viewing his legal woes as efforts by opponents to undermine him, are unlikely to be affected by the civil verdict in the polarised political climate of America.
Trump won't face prison for this civil case, as it carries no criminal charges.
Trump's lawyers didn't defend him, hoping jurors would believe Carroll's case was weak.
Trump claimed that Carroll, a former Elle columnist and a registered Democrat, fabricated the allegations to boost sales of her 2019 memoir and harm his political reputation.
As a result of this unusual case against a former president, the judge ordered the jurors' names, addresses, and employment locations to remain confidential.
Trump uses Carroll trial in campaign emails to support his accusation of a Democratic scheme to harm him politically.
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