Title: Former President Trump Ordered to Pay $83 Million to E. Jean Carroll in Defamation Lawsuit

In a landmark verdict, former President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay $83 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll, a former advice columnist, for defaming her. The legal battle stems from Carroll's allegations that Trump raped her in the 1990s, which he vehemently denied.

Carroll, who worked as a columnist for Elle Magazine, filed two lawsuits against Trump since 2019. The first lawsuit was for defamation after Trump denied the rape allegation, and the second was filed in 2022, accusing the former president of rape and defamation for his social media posts denying the accusations.

The recent verdict comes after a previous judgment last spring, in which a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse but not rape and awarded Carroll $5 million. The latest trial sought to compensate Carroll for damage to her reputation caused by Trump's comments during his presidency.

The jury ultimately awarded Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages and an additional $65 million in punitive damages. However, Trump quickly took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his strong disagreement with both verdicts. He called the legal system a "political weapon" and vowed to appeal the decision.

It is worth noting that Carroll was able to sue Trump over the rape accusation despite the statute of limitations having expired due to a law passed in New York in 2019, allowing adults to file a one-time civil case beyond the limitations period.

Throughout the trial, Trump's supporters and social media critics voiced concerns regarding Carroll's credibility, pointing to previous remarks she made that raised eyebrows. This includes her 2019 interview on CNN, where she controversially stated that "most people" view rape as "sexy."

Trump and his legal team argued that crucial evidence, such as the CNN interview, was barred from being shown to the jury. The judge, Lewis Kaplan, also prevented Trump's team from arguing that Carroll fabricated her account of the assault or had any motive to do so.

The case has divided public opinion, with some hailing it as a victory for survivors of sexual assault and a blow to powerful figures being held accountable. Others see it as a politically motivated attack against Trump.

Carroll, meanwhile, maintains that her intent is not to be seen as a victim but as someone who fought against the alleged assault. She described the encounter as a "fight" rather than a rape.

As Trump prepares to appeal the verdict, the legal battle between him and Carroll continues to captivate both media and public attention. The outcome of the appeal will determine if Trump's obligation to pay damages will stand or if the case will undergo further scrutiny.