Second Circuit Rejects Trump Appeal in $5M E. Jean Carroll Assault, Defamation Case

An appellate court has rejected President Donald Trump's appeal in the civil case brought by E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of sexual assault and defamation. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit declined to reconsider the $5 million verdict against Trump, leaving the Supreme Court as his last option. The original jury found Trump liable for battery and defamation but did not find that he raped Carroll. Trump had challenged evidentiary rulings made by the trial judge, including the admission of testimony about other alleged assaults and the exclusion of certain defense evidence, but the appeals court found no abuse of discretion. Two Trump-appointed appellate judges dissented strongly, criticizing the majority for upholding what they called flawed evidentiary decisions and arguing for an en banc rehearing. Trump is also appealing a separate $83 million defamation verdict in another case filed by Carroll, which remains ongoing.