The Manhattan federal jury has found that former US President Donald Trump sexually abused E. Jean Carroll in a luxury department store dressing room in 1996. The jury also awarded her $5 million for battery and defamation.
However, Trump was found not liable for raping Carroll in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman. The former President has reacted to the verdict calling it "the greatest witch hunt of all time."
He took to his Truth Social media platform to state that he had "absolutely no idea who this woman is." "This verdict is a disgrace -- a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time," Trump said.
The former President won't face jail time since this is a civil case.
It was in 2019 that Carroll sued then-President Donald Trump for defamation after alleging he raped her in a department store dressing room in 1995 or 1996. Carroll alleged that Trump defamed her when he denied her claim.
Trump denied any wrongdoing, stating that "I’ve never met this person in my life" and Carroll was "not my type" and the incident "never happened." He also alleged that she made up the story to boost sales of her book.
The trial began on April 25 and Trump did not attend the trial as it was not required to do so in civil cases.
"I filed this lawsuit against Donald Trump to clear my name and to get my life back," she said in a statement. "Today, the world finally knows the truth. This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed."
Visibly elated after the verdict was read in the court, Carroll shook hands with both her and Trump's lawyers. Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, was heard telling her: "Congratulations and good luck."
Roberta Kaplan, a lawyer for the plaintiff said in a statement: "This is a victory not only for E Jean Carroll, but for democracy itself, and for all survivors everywhere."
The verdict comes as Trump announced his bid for the White House and is considered the early frontrunner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. However, the verdict is unlikely to have any impact on Trump's Presidential candidacy since it is a civil case which has no bearing on the requirements for the presidency as per the Constitution.