Former Republican President Donald Trump speaks at a primary election night party in Nashua, New Hampshire, January 23, 2024.
Matt Rourke/Associated Press
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Matt Rourke/Associated Press
Former Republican President Donald Trump speaks at a primary election night party in Nashua, New Hampshire, January 23, 2024.
Matt Rourke/Associated Press
NEW YORK — The federal judge who oversaw the New York defamation trial that resulted in $83.3 million in damages for a longtime magazine columnist who claimed she was raped by Donald Trump in the 1990s said Thursday that the federal judge who oversaw the New York defamation trial that resulted in $83.3 million in damages for a longtime magazine columnist who claimed she was raped by Donald Trump in the 1990s said Thursday that the federal judge who oversaw the New York defamation trial that resulted in $83.3 million in damages for a longtime magazine columnist who claimed she was raped by Donald Trump refused to bail out the president.
In a written order, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan told Trump's lawyers that if the ruling survives appeal, he would not delay the bond payment deadline to ensure that 80-year-old author E. Jean Carroll receives his winnings. Ta.
A judge ruled in late January that the economic damage to the Republican front-runner in the presidential race stemmed from statements made by President Trump during his 2019 presidential term, after he revealed allegations against Carroll. He said this was due to his delay in responding to the ruling. In a memoir.
At the time, President Trump accused her of making up a story about raping Carol in the dressing room of an upscale Manhattan department store in the spring of 1996. In May of last year, a jury in a trial in which Trump was not present found that Trump had handed down an unfair verdict and awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. Although she sexually abused him, she did not rape him, as New York state law defines rape. It also concluded that the October 2022 statement defamed her.
Trump attended the January trial and testified briefly, but the jury must accept the May verdict, which will only determine how much, if any, Carroll will be owed in damages for Trump's 2019. Although his speech was severely restricted, he was able to speak. In his statement, President Trump claimed he did not know Carroll and accused her of making up her lies to sell her book and cause political harm.
Trump's lawyers have challenged the verdict, which includes $65 million in punitive damages, saying it is “likely” that it will be reduced or removed on appeal.
Kaplan noted in Thursday's order that Trump's lawyers waited 25 days to ask for a delay in posting bail. The verdict will be finalized on Monday.
“Mr. Trump's current situation is the result of his own diplomatic actions,” Kaplan wrote.
The judge said Trump's lawyers had asked Kaplan to withhold the jury award until they considered challenging the verdict because setting bail “could cause irreparable harm.” They pointed out that the request was to delay the execution of jury awards until three days after Kaplan's decision. It costs a lot of money. ”
But Kaplan said ongoing legal costs do not constitute irreparable harm.
“Mr. Trump also asked what costs he might incur if he needed to pledge bonds or other securities, and on what terms (if any) he would offer traditional bonds. “There is no indication as to whether cash or other assets may be available or posted to secure payment of the debt, judgment, or other circumstances relevant to the situation,” the judge said. .
Trump's lawyer, Alina Haba, had no immediate comment.
Since the January ruling, in a separate case, a New York judge has awarded Trump and his companies $355 million for a years-long scheme to defraud banks and others with financial statements that inflated Trump's assets. ordered to pay a fine. He owes the state about $454 million, including his interest.
