In a decision released on Monday, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Trump’s appeal against the defamation damages, determining that the “jury’s damages awards are fair and reasonable.”
Trump had argued that he should not have to pay the sum as a result of a Supreme Court decision expanding presidential immunity.
The 2023 jury awarded Carroll $7.5 million to compensate her for both the alleged attack and statements Trump made denying that it had happened.
Following the initial verdict, the court convened a second trial with a different jury to determine damages for additional remarks Trump made, which attacked Carroll’s integrity and honesty.
Trump had skipped the first civil trial but he attended the second, which took place as he was running for president in 2024.
During the trial, Trump consistently told reporters that the lawsuit was part of a wider effort to tarnish his reputation and hinder his return to the White House.
His attorneys argued that the judge, by setting parameters for the second trial focused on damages, had prohibited Trump and his defense team from asserting to the jury that he was innocent of the alleged assault.
The judge ruled that that issue had been settled by the first jury and didn’t need to be revisited.
