Title: Judge Rejects Trump's Bid for New Trial, Upholds $83.3 Million Damages in E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case

In a significant blow to former President Donald Trump, a federal judge in New York has denied his request for a new trial in the defamation case filed against him by writer E. Jean Carroll. The judge's ruling upholds the jury's decision to award Carroll with $83.3 million in damages.

Judge Lewis Kaplan, in his ruling, dismissed Trump's arguments, stating that Carroll's compensatory damages were not solely for emotional distress but reflected the severe harm caused by Trump's "malicious and unceasing attacks." These attacks were disseminated to over 100 million people and included public threats and personal assaults, posing a threat to Carroll's health and safety.

Robbie Kaplan, Carroll's attorney, commended the court's decision, expressing satisfaction but not surprise. In a statement, she emphasized that the jury's substantial award was justified given Trump's continuous defamation of her client during the trial and his blatant hostility displayed in the courtroom.

The defamation case stems from Carroll's allegations of sexual abuse against Trump in 2019, which he vehemently denied. In a separate trial in May 2023, Trump was found liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the 1990s and defaming her through a social media post in 2022, where he dismissed her claims as a "hoax" and declared, "This woman is not my type!"

The jury awarded Carroll $17.3 million in compensatory damages and an additional $65 million in punitive damages. However, they did not find Trump guilty of rape, as Carroll had alleged. Trump consistently denied all accusations and even claimed not to have heard of Carroll before.

Despite Trump's legal team raising various arguments, Judge Kaplan rejected each one, asserting that they did not hold merit. Ultimately, the judge concluded that the arguments put forward by Trump, which had failed to convince the jury, did not warrant dismissal as a matter of law.

The outcome of this case adds to the legal challenges faced by Donald Trump and highlights the significant financial and reputational consequences that can arise from defamation allegations. The court's decision in favor of E. Jean Carroll underscores the need for accountability, even for those occupying the highest offices in the country.