Legally Established · Not an Allegation
A Federal Jury's Verdict
In May 2023, a unanimous jury found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll. The judge later clarified this constituted rape by common definition. The appeals court upheld it.
Civil vs. criminal — the standard of proof
Civil trials require a preponderance of evidence (more likely than not). Criminal trials require proof beyond reasonable doubt. Trump was never criminally charged for this incident. However, a nine-person civil jury — after seeing Trump present no defense witnesses and refuse to testify — found him liable. A federal appeals court affirmed that finding.
Judicial Findings
What the judge said
These are direct quotes from official court orders — not media summaries.
“The proof convincingly established, and the jury implicitly found, that Mr. Trump deliberately and forcibly penetrated Ms. Carroll's vagina with his fingers.”
From the July 2023 order denying Trump's motion for a new trial. Judge Kaplan clarified that while New York's narrow statutory definition of rape requires penile penetration, the conduct the jury found constituted rape by any common definition of the word.
“Carroll's accusation of rape is substantially true.”
From the same order. The judge stated that while the jury used the word 'sexual abuse' on its verdict form rather than 'rape,' this was because of New York's narrow penal code definition — not because the act did not constitute rape by its ordinary meaning.
Trial Evidence
Evidence presented to the jury
Two friends testified Carroll told them about the attack immediately after it occurred
Two other women testified about similar assaults by Trump — pattern evidence admitted
The Access Hollywood tape admitted as evidence of Trump's own statements about sexual conduct
Trump's own deposition, in which he refused to answer key questions, admitted
Trump presented no defense witnesses
Trump did not testify in his own defense — jury permitted to draw adverse inference
The Defamation Case
Why there was a second trial
After the 2023 verdict, Trump continued making public statements about Carroll. A second jury evaluated them.
Following the 2023 verdict, Trump continued publicly calling Carroll a liar, a "nut job," and claiming she was "not his type." A second jury found these statements defamatory — because the assault had been proven to have occurred. The second jury awarded $83.3 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
$18.3M
Compensatory damages
$65M
Punitive damages
$83.3M
Total, Trial 2
What Trump's defense presented
Trump presented zero defense witnesses
Trump did not testify in his own defense
Trump's attorneys argued Carroll 'was not his type' — later found defamatory
All post-trial motions were denied
The appeal was rejected in full (Dec 30, 2024)
Trump has petitioned the Supreme Court (filed Nov 2025, pending)
Primary Sources
Court documents
All links go directly to official legal repositories (FindLaw, Justia).
Carroll v. Trump — Original Trial Jury Verdict
U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y.No. 22-cv-10016·May 9, 2023
"We, the jury, find for the plaintiff E. Jean Carroll on her claim of battery and find for the plaintiff on her claim of defamation."
Order Denying Motion for New Trial — Judge's Clarification on 'Rape'
U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y. — Judge Lewis A. KaplanNo. 22-cv-10016·July 2023
"The proof convincingly established, and the jury implicitly found, that Mr. Trump deliberately and forcibly penetrated Ms. Carroll's vagina with his fingers."
Carroll v. Trump — Second Trial, $83.3M Defamation Verdict
U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y.No. 22-cv-10016·January 26, 2024
"The jury awarded $83.3 million in compensatory and punitive damages for Trump's post-presidency defamatory statements."
Carroll v. Trump — Appeals Court Affirms $5M Verdict
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second CircuitNo. 23-793·December 30, 2024
"For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED."