Trump has appealed a $5 million judgment in E. Jean Carroll’s civil suit

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CNN —

Former President Donald Trump is appealing a $5 million judgment awarded by a Manhattan federal jury that found he sexually abused and defamed former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll.

Trump’s lawyers filed a notice of appeal with the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, hours after federal Judge Lewis Kaplan filed a written decision endorsing the jury’s verdict and ordering Trump to pay Carroll the full amount. Kaplan led the civil trial in New York.

Trump has previously indicated he plans to appeal.

Carroll alleged that Trump raped her at a Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York in the spring of 1996 and then vilified her when she denied his claims, saying he was not her type and suggesting she made up a story to get stronger. the sales of his book.

The jury found that he was liable for the battery based on the sexual assault claim, that he should pay approximately $2 million in damages to Carroll for the civil battery claim and that he should pay her approximately $3 million in damages for the successful vindication of her defamation claim against him.

While the jury found that Trump had sexually abused her, enough to hold him liable for battery, the jury did not find that Carroll proved that he raped her.

Trump has denied all the claims brought against him by Carroll and called the civil trial verdict a total disgrace.

Like any defendant in a civil case, Trump did not have to appear in court for a trial or any trial and has the right not to testify in his own defense. He did not attend the trial, and his team argued that the former president could not get a fair trial in New York City.

During the trial, Carroll acknowledged that he is a registered Democrat and that he thinks Trump is a terrible president, but testified that his political views had nothing to do with his case.

I don’t settle political scores, Carroll testified. Im settling a personal score because he called me a liar repeatedly and it really has decimated my reputation. Im a journalist the one thing I have to have is the trust of the readers.

The Trumps’ attorney, in his closing arguments earlier this week, told jurors he knew Trump was a divisive figure, but told them that shouldn’t matter when reaching a verdict.

People have very strong feelings about Donald Trump. That’s clear, said attorney Joe Tacopina. There’s a time and a secret place to do that: it’s called a ballot box during elections.

The ruling has no legal effect on Trumps presidential candidacy. The former president denied the accusations and made dismissive comments about Carroll more than 24 hours after jurors were found at a CNN town hall in New Hampshire.

This story has been updated with additional details.

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