Title: Former President Trump Ordered to Pay $83.3 Million in Damages in Defamation Case

In a significant blow to former President Donald Trump, a New York City jury has ordered him to pay $83.3 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll, a former Elle columnist. Carroll had accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s. This ruling comes after Trump was previously ordered to pay $5 million in damages to Carroll in a separate defamation trial last year.

The jury's verdict includes $7.3 million in compensatory damages, $11 million for reputational repair, and a staggering $65 million in punitive damages. The decision was based on Trump's statements made in 2019, where he claimed that Carroll was lying about the alleged assault. Trump had consistently maintained his innocence throughout the trial, even after the first jury found him liable for the sexual abuse.

Roberta Kaplan, Carroll's lawyer, made a compelling argument against Trump during the civil defamation trial. Appearing on CNN with host Anderson Cooper, Kaplan accused the former president of committing perjury on the witness stand. She highlighted moments where Trump contradicted himself, including his denial of ever meeting Carroll and his assertion that she was a "whack job" that he had never heard of.

Kaplan also pointed out an incriminating moment from Trump's deposition video, where he misidentified Carroll in a photo with his then-wife Ivana and E. Jean Carroll. When questioned about the mistake, Trump dismissed it as a "blurry photo," which the jury saw as a clear attempt to deceive.

Following the jury's decision, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, denying the allegations and expressing his disagreement with both verdicts. He called the trials a "Biden Directed Witch Hunt" targeting him and the Republican Party, vowing to appeal the rulings.

Trump's lawyer, Alina Habba, claimed that the defense team was limited in their ability to mount a proper defense. However, legal experts and other pundits have raised questions about the validity of such claims.

It remains unclear whether Roberta Kaplan intends to pursue perjury charges against the former president. Under New York state law, perjury charges could carry a punishment of three to seven years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000 if convicted.

Newsweek reached out to Trump's legal team for comment, but no response has been received as of yet.

The hefty damages awarded to Carroll in this highly publicized defamation case serve as a powerful rebuke of Trump's denial and raise questions about the impact this could have on his potential bid for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.