Trump vows to appeal 'absolutely ridiculous' E. Jean Carroll decision

Former Donald Trump on Friday fumed over a jury decision to award E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in damages over Trump's 2019 statements denying her allegations that he raped her.

Carroll came forward in 2019 claiming Trump had raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s. Trump denied her story at the time and maintains his rejection of her account. A jury on Friday awarded Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages.

"Absolutely ridiculous! I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party. Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!" Trump posted to Truth Social after the verdict was announced.

Trump's "both verdicts" line appears to refer to Friday's decision and a prior jury determination from last year. Carroll initially sued over Trump's 2019 comments, though the suit was delayed due to questions over whether Trump enjoyed presidential immunity for the making the comments while in office. U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan ultimately rejected that argument and the Friday decision addresses those denials.

A separate jury held Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in May of last year, awarding Carroll damages for denials Trump made after leaving office.

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