Trump Defamation Trial And Its $83 Mil Judgment

The Donald Trump defamation trial has ended with embarrassment and a loss for ‘The Donald.’

Top News Today :
On Friday, a jury in New York ordered Donald Trump to pay a total of $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for ruining her credibility as an advice columnist after he called her a liar for accusing him of sexual assault.

The judgment includes $65 million in punitive damages, $11 million for the damage to her reputation, as well as another $7.3 million.

Trump’s guilt was never in question since Judge Lewis Kaplan had already ruled that Trump did, in fact, defame Carroll. Even the $83 million judgment was not totally unexpected. However, it was Trump’s 3 minutes of testimony on the stand during this Trump defamation trial combined with his abhorrent behavior that now has everyone talking. 

Showcasing his typical behavior that he’s somehow above the law and that rules don’t apply to him, Donald Trump proved to be in rare form in the courtroom. Although he was warned in advance that he couldn’t provide any testimony “disputing or attempting to undermine” the sexual abuse allegations made by Carroll and that the law doesn’t allow for “do-overs by disappointed litigants,” Trump was expectedly defiant and just couldn’t help himself.

“She said something that I considered to be a false accusation,” Trump barked while on the stand in what was seen as a blatant disregard of the judge’s order. “I just wanted to defend myself, my family, and, frankly, the presidency,” he continued, despite not being asked to explain his opinion or offer his own defense.

As Judge Kaplan ordered the jurors to disregard those remarks, Trump rolled his eyes and stepped down from the witness stand in a huff. Then, during closing arguments, he couldn’t accept the fact that he’d been admonished to remain silent. So, he shook his head, huffed and puffed, then stormed out of the courtroom in disgust while declaring to spectators over and over “This is not America.”

His antics defied usual courtroom decorum — and legal analysts took note.

“I just want to say about Trump’s exit today, you know, that might be a surprise or drama on TV, [but] in real life, in federal court, it is mind-boggling. It just doesn’t happen. And of course, it just drips with contempt for the whole process, for the plaintiff, for the jury,” CNN legal analyst Harry Litman said.

“First, he proves the very point that, that the lawyer was saying, he thinks the rules don’t apply to him. Everybody, everybody sit still and respectfully for a closing argument. And it virtually begs the jury to impose stratospheric punitive damages.”

Litman added that Trump’s “utter incorrigibility and nastiness” toward Carroll and the entire legal process didn’t do ‘The Donald’ any favors and could come back to haunt him in future trials.

OK WASSUP! discusses the Top News Today:
Trump defamation trial ends in disgust and millions in damages.