Major Blow to Trump: Appeals Court Rejects $83.3 Million Rape Case Compensation Cancellation, Presidential Immunity Denied

New York (The Uttam Hindu): Former U.S. President Donald Trump suffered a major setback as the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his appeal seeking to overturn the $83.3 million (approximately ₹693 crore) compensation awarded to journalist and author E. Jean Carroll.

E. Jean Carroll, 81, a former columnist for Elle magazine, had accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a New York department store dressing room during the 1990s. Trump denied the allegations in 2019, claiming that Carroll “is not my type” and that she fabricated the story to sell her book.

A three-judge panel of the court stated that the jury’s award was fully justified given the extraordinary and serious circumstances of the case. The court also clarified that Trump cannot claim presidential immunity in this matter.

Trump had argued that a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court ruling granted him broad criminal immunity, which should also apply to civil cases. He further contended that his 2019 statements were part of his official presidential duties. However, the court dismissed all these arguments.