A federal appeals court has upheld a jury's decision requiring former President Donald Trump to pay writer E. Jean Carroll over $83 million in damages for defamation. The ruling, issued by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday, marks another setback for Trump in a legal battle that began in 2019 when Carroll accused him of sexually assaulting her decades earlier.

The appeals court found that the jury's conclusion was "fair and reasonable." Trump's legal team had argued that he was protected by presidential immunity and claimed that the trial court made several errors. They also contended that the damages awarded to Carroll were excessive. However, the appeals court rejected these arguments, stating, "We hold that the district court did not err in any of the challenged rulings and that the jury's duly rendered damages awards were reasonable in light of the extraordinary and egregious facts of this case."

In January 2023, a federal jury in New York awarded Carroll $5 million after finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The same appeals court upheld that judgment in June. The jury determined that Trump had forcefully assaulted Carroll, a claim supported by substantial evidence.

In 2024, a separate jury examined additional defamatory remarks made by Trump about Carroll. The appeals court noted that Trump displayed disruptive behavior during the trial. His statements included denials of Carroll's allegations and claims that she fabricated her story.

Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, urged the jury to impose significant damages to deter Trump from continuing his defamatory remarks. The appeals court agreed, affirming the $83 million judgment, which has increased due to New York's 9% annual interest rate on such awards.

Trump's attorneys argued that the verdict undermines the presidency and constitutes a miscarriage of justice. They maintained that Trump's comments were made in his official capacity as president, thus falling under presidential immunity. However, Carroll's legal team countered that Trump's statements were personal and not related to his official duties.

The appeals court's ruling reinforces the notion that even powerful individuals can be held accountable under the law. Trump has consistently denied Carroll's allegations and any wrongdoing related to the case.