A federal appeals court has confirmed an $83.3 million jury verdict against former U.S. President Donald Trump for sexually defaming writer E. Jean Carroll in 2019.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan rejected Trump’s claim that presidential immunity should protect him from Carroll’s civil lawsuit.
Carroll, an 81-year-old former Elle magazine columnist, accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s in a New York department store.
After she publicly shared her allegations in 2019, Trump denied the claims and made statements questioning her credibility, which led to the defamation lawsuit.
The $83.3 million award includes $18.3 million for emotional and reputational damage and $65 million in punitive damages.
The appeals court ruled that the lower court had acted correctly and that the damages were appropriate given the facts of the case.
This decision follows a prior ruling in May 2023, when a jury awarded Carroll $5 million in a related sexual assault and defamation case.
Trump had challenged that verdict as well, but it was upheld in June 2025. In both cases, the jury did not find Trump guilty of rape, but did hold him liable for defamation.
In his appeals, Trump argued that statements he made about Carroll were part of his role as president and claimed that failing to grant him immunity could affect the independence of the executive branch.
He also challenged the conduct of the trial court, questioning how his testimony was handled. The appeals court rejected these arguments, allowing the larger $83.3 million award to stand.
Carroll has continued to write about her legal battle. In June 2025, she released a new memoir detailing her experiences with Trump and the court cases.
The decision by the appeals court adds another chapter to a long-running legal battle that has drawn attention across the United States and remains closely followed by media and the public.