• Federal appeals court affirms $83.3 million defamation award against Trump for E. Jean Carroll.
• Trump's arguments for presidential immunity and excessive damages were rejected.
• A jury found Trump liable for his public denial of Carroll's sexual assault allegations.
• The ruling comprises $65 million in punitive damages and addresses ongoing harassment faced by Carroll.
• Legal experts suggest the case may escalate to the Supreme Court for further review.

A federal appeals court upheld a jury's $83.3 million defamation award against U.S. President Donald Trump for statements made against writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of sexual assault. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued its ruling on September 8, affirming the jury's conclusion that Trump's comments about Carroll intending to defend himself were not protected under presidential immunity, leading to this substantial award, which included $65 million in punitive damages for malice, according to Reuters, The Hill, and CBS News.

The court dismissed Trump's claims that the damages were unreasonably excessive and emphasized that the jury's awards were justified given the "extraordinary and egregious facts of this case." During an earlier trial, jurors found Trump liable for both defamation and sexual abuse, awarding Carroll $5 million, a verdict also previously upheld, reports HuffPost and LA Times.

The appeals court reiterated that Trump's public attacks, made through social media and in public statements, amounted to a smear campaign against Carroll, who claimed that these actions led to threats and harassment against her. Trump's defense team argued that the judge made errors during the trial, yet the appeals court was firm in its conclusion that the damages awarded were reasonable under the circumstances, as cited by Newsweek and Al Jazeera.

The ruling emphasizes the serious implications of Trump's conduct, with the court noting that Carroll faced ongoing harassment due to Trump's allegations, which significantly damaged her reputation and career. The legal ramifications of this case may extend to the U.S. Supreme Court, as Trump's legal team hinted at potential further appeals to contest this decision, according to Dawn and SCMP.