Trump to appeal battery, defamation verdict in E. Jean Carroll case

Former President Donald Trump will appeal a recent court decision in which a jury found him liable for battery and defamation against writer E. Jean Carroll, who had brought a civil case against him.

The jury on Tuesday awarded Carroll a total of $5 million in damages stemming from both determinations. Trump faces no jail time due to the civil nature of the case, which was only possible due to a New York law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations. The incident took place in the 1990s.

Trump attorney Joseph Tacopina, shortly after the verdict, told The Epoch Times that Trump would appeal the decision. The former president's legal team previously sought a mistrial, asserting that Judge Lewis Kaplan had a history of "pervasive unfair and prejudicial rulings" against Trump. Kaplan denied that motion.

The basis of a prospective appeal remains unclear and Tacopina did not outline his argument to the outlet. Trump continues to deny Carroll's claims, calling the verdict a "disgrace" and part of "the greatest witch hunt of all time!"

A Trump campaign spokesperson pointed to the New York venue of the trial, asserting that Trump had fought the court case in hostile territory.

"The Democratic Party’s never-ending witch-hunt of President Trump hit a new low today. In jurisdictions wholly controlled by the Democratic Party our nation’s justice system is now compromised by extremist left-wing politics," the spokesperson told the Times. "We have allowed false and totally made-up claims from troubled individuals to interfere with our elections, doing great damage."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.