Former US President Donald Trump spoke after learning of the self-declared decision of the federal jury in Manhattan, signaling a verdict that involved a civil claim by writer E. Jean Carroll. The ruling found Trump liable for sexual assault in the 1996 incident and for defaming Carroll years later, while excluding other charges from proceeding to a criminal sentence. Trump publicly criticized the decision, framing the case as part of an ongoing political campaign against him and labeling the process a witch hunt. He claimed the verdict was an embarrassment to the country and directed his followers to resist what he described as a fraud and a political attack, urging them not to let the nation fall into a moral abyss.
Through a series of videos shared on his own platform Truth Social, Trump argued that the trial did not meet his standards of fairness, insisting that the proceedings were politically motivated and unfair in nature. He repeatedly asserted that he did not know Carroll and questioned the credibility of the allegations while maintaining that the case was being used to damage his political prospects. The former president spoke to supporters about continuing to push back, emphasizing the importance of standing firm against what he called an excessive and biased campaign intended to undermine him.
Since this matter is civil in nature, Trump does not face jail time as a result of the verdict. Instead, the judgment required him to pay Carroll five million dollars, with the amount representing compensation and damages awarded in connection with the allegations that accompanied the defamation findings. This financial consequence was presented as a form of restitution and accountability within the civil justice system atmosphere surrounding the case.
Carroll, on the other hand, expressed a sense of vindication for the outcome of the civil matter and conveyed gratitude for the sentence in a statement that highlighted the broader impact for other women who have faced similar, painful experiences. She framed the decision as a notable victory that extends beyond personal relief, signaling support for countless women who have endured unfair treatment. In her comments, she emphasized that the lawsuit was a step toward clearing her name and reclaiming her life, asserting that the world now has a clear understanding of the events she described.
Carroll had previously disclosed before the US justice system that she was assaulted by Trump in the mid-1990s, revealing that the encounter occurred before Trump entered politics and that he was widely recognized as a leading figure in business at that time. The court, however, did not find enough evidence to conclude that Trump raped Carroll, but it did determine that he committed sexual assault in the manner described in the civil claims and that his subsequent statements damaged Carroll’s reputation. The rulings thus reflected a distinction between the specific sexual assault finding and the defamation component of the case.
This legal development unfolds as Trump continues to pursue a broader return to political leadership in the United States and faces additional legal challenges in parallel. Among these is an indictment related to payments allegedly made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels in exchange for silence regarding certain acts, a matter that has dominated headlines and kept Trump’s legal and political status in the spotlight. The evolving legal landscape surrounding Trump is shaping the public conversation about accountability, political influence, and the balance between free speech and the protection of personal reputations in high-profile civil cases.