Blow To Trump As Court Upholds USD 5 Million Fine In Sexual Abuse Case

A US Appeals Court on Monday (Tuesday, December 31 by IST) upheld guilty verdict and USD 5 million in fines on US President-Elect Donald Trump in the sexual abuse case. As per CNN, the court has denied a retrial. Trump was earlier found guilty of sexually abusing writer E Jean Carroll in 1996. He had challenged the verdict.

In his appeal, Trump had claimed that the judge made error in the previous trial by allowing testimonies of two more women who had accused Trump of assault.

The appeals court held that Trump's rights were not affected during the trial in order for the retrial claim to be substantial enough.

The Carroll Case

Writer E Jean Carroll had accused Trump of 'raping' her in Bergdorf Goodman departmental store in 1996. Trump had denied the claim but had created an uproar by saying that Carroll was 'not his type'. He claimed that Carroll made allegations just to gain publicity for her book. He was subsequently found guilty of defaming her and was asked to pay damages in addition for those ordered for sexual abuse.

"Both E Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today's decision. We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties' arguments," said Roberta Kaplan, Carroll's attorney after Monday's verdict in the appeals court. Kaplan was quoted by CNN.

Trump's top spokesman and incoming White House communications director, Steven Cheung, said more appeals are forthcoming.

"The American people have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax, which will continue to be appealed. We look forward to uniting our country in the new administration as President Trump makes America great again," said Steven Cheung, Trump's top spokesman and next communications director of the White House.