A federal judge has denied former President Donald Trump's request to delay enforcement of the ruling that he must pay $83.3 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll. The judge, Lewis A. Kaplan, also ordered Trump to pay the full amount by Monday or post a bond. This decision comes after a federal jury in January found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in the case brought by Carroll, a writer and long-time advice columnist.
The jury's decision was made after a trial in which Carroll accused Trump of raping her in the mid-1990s at a department store in New York City. Trump has vehemently denied the allegations and has appealed the verdict. However, Judge Kaplan argued that Trump's own actions and delays are responsible for his current situation.
In his ruling, Judge Kaplan said, "Mr. Trump's current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions." He also noted that Trump had ample time to prepare for the possibility of having to post a bond, but waited until after the jury's verdict. The judge also pointed out that Trump did not provide any evidence or explanation for why he could not pay the damages or post a bond.
Trump's lawyers have responded to the ruling, with his communications director Steven Cheung calling it a "totally lawless Witch Hunt." Cheung also claimed that "many courts, including the Second Circuit, recognize the importance of temporary administrative stays while such motions are considered." He also stated that they will continue to challenge the verdict and seek "complete vindication of the Truth."
The request for a delay and the appeal comes just days after Trump's lawyers filed a motion for a new trial. In the motion, they argue that the court limited Trump's testimony during the trial, which influenced the jury's verdict. They also claim that Trump's statements about Carroll were meant to defend his reputation, protect his family, and defend his presidency.
The jury in the case initially found Trump not liable for rape but did hold him responsible for sexual abuse and defamation. They awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. However, the jury also found that Trump's statements about Carroll, made while he was in the White House in 2019, were made to harm her and awarded her an additional $65 million in punitive damages.
In total, the jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages. This is significantly higher than the $12 million she was initially seeking. Carroll's lawsuit against Trump was based on his response to her allegations, which she claimed caused harm to her reputation.
Trump, who is currently the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination, has repeatedly and strongly denied the allegations. After the jury's verdict was announced, he took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to call the whole situation "ridiculous" and criticize the legal system for being a "political weapon." He also expressed his strong disagreement with both the verdicts and his intention to appeal.
Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, praised the judge's decision to deny Trump's request for a delay and order him to pay the full amount of damages.
She said in a statement, "Today's decision is a powerful rejection of Trump's efforts to avoid accountability for his actions. We look forward to the time when the full measure of justice is served and Trump is held personally responsible for his defamatory and harmful conduct towards E. Jean Carroll." Both sides are now awaiting further developments as the legal battle continues.