A federal appeals court confirmed on December 30, 2023, that Donald Trump must pay $5 million to E. Jean Carroll after a jury found him liable for defamation and sexual abuse. The ruling by the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals came after Carroll testified about the violent encounter that allegedly took place in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in 1996. Trump's denial of the incident continues as he appeals prior verdicts against him.

The verdict was the result of a May 2023 trial, where the jury found Trump liable for sexual assault and awarded Carroll $2.02 million for sexual abuse and $2.98 million for defamation related to Trump’s October 2022 statements denying the assault and calling it a "hoax." Carroll’s first case brought against Trump resulted in an additional verdict in January, where he was ordered to pay her a total of $83.3 million for further defamatory comments made while he was president.

Despite claims from Trump's lawyers that the trial judge Lewis Kaplan had erred by allowing testimony from other women who accused Trump of misconduct, the appeals court stated that there was no basis to overturn the verdict. The judges determined that the jury’s findings were supported by adequate evidence, emphasizing that Trump did not demonstrate that any errors could have influenced the jury’s decision (SCMP).

During the trial, Carroll explained how the encounter escalated from a chance meeting into an assault, corroborating her allegations. Trump, who did not attend the initial trial, faced the jury during a follow-up defamation case resulting in the hefty damages. His representatives have claimed that the prosecution of this case is politically motivated, with Trump labeling the proceedings "Witch Hunts."

In light of the rulings, Carroll's legal team expressed satisfaction, as her attorney Roberta Kaplan remarked, "Both E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today's decision." Further appeals by Trump concerning the various awards against him are expected, as he continues to contest the outcomes (Le Monde).