As of: January 29, 2024, 4:03 p.m
By: Nils Hinsberger
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Trump is sentenced to $83 million in the E. Jean Carroll defamation trial.
She is happy about the victory – Trump is threatened with further fines.
New York – The verdict in the libel trial against presidential candidate Donald Trump has been reached: he must pay the writer E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million.
She accuses the Republican of raping her in a department store in New York in 1996.
Trump denied the allegations, calling Carroll a liar and adding that she wasn't his "type."
Carroll seemed visibly pleased with the outcome of the trial and told the
New York Times
that she wanted to do “something good” with the money.
Trump, on the other hand, spoke of the trial as a “political weapon” that would be used against him.
“Our justice system is out of control,” he said after the verdict was announced.
In addition to the fine, which is painful for him, Trump's anger could also be related to another possible verdict - if he is tried for fraud, he could face an even higher penalty.
“Good dog food” because of Trump’s million-dollar fine in New York
Trump regularly attacked Carroll over the rape allegations on his social media platform Truth Social and at press conferences, reports the
New York Times
.
For Carroll, the victory over Trump is also a victory for American women.
“We needed this victory more than anything after losing the rights to our own bodies in many states.
Women won that.
I think that’s a good sign for the future,” said Carroll, alluding to the sensitive abortion laws in many US states.
$83.3 million.
This is the verdict against Donald Trump in the libel trial surrounding the author E. Jean Carroll.
© John Angelillo/IMAGO
But what does someone do when they suddenly acquire such wealth?
“I won’t waste a dime of it,” was Carroll’s response.
She wants to do something good with the money.
But finding out exactly what that should be takes time.
Likewise, it will probably be a few years before the 80-year-old receives the money.
But she had already made a plan: buy dog food.
Although she wouldn't buy any immense luxury for herself, she wanted to use the money to buy "good food" for her dogs.
“Makes a lot of money”: Is the punishment against Trump already having an effect?
Carroll's attorney, Roberta A. Kaplan, also welcomed the punishment against Trump, emphasizing that it hits Trump where it hurts.
In addition, he will now think twice about whether he wants to continue attacking Carroll.
“He cares a lot about money.
And that's a lot of money for Trump.
And I don’t think he wants another sentence like that,” Kaplan said.
The punishment could already have an effect.
Trump made negative comments about the court after the verdict, but avoided directing further insults at Carroll.
Trump will probably be able to pay the $83 million fine.
“He has enough, it seems, cash and cash-equivalent things to sell,” reporter Susanne Craig told
Raw Story
.
Things could look different because of the ongoing fraud proceedings against him.
Trump and his company are accused of misrepresenting company values in order to receive tax benefits, loan guarantees and better insurance rates.
The plaintiffs are seeking a $250 million penalty and strict restrictions on the company's activities in New York.
Trump could lose assets and mansions over fraud trial
Trump could still afford the $83 million from the defamation trial.
But if the fine in the fraud trial actually amounts to over $200 million, things could even get tight for Trump.
According to Craig, he won't be able to raise enough cash to pay the amount.
“He may look at selling assets or something like that if he wants to either pay up immediately or appeal,” she said.
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Another way Trump could raise the money is through his numerous properties, speculates
Raw Story
.
Some of his clubs and facilities, like his golf club in Los Angeles or his nearly 1,000-square-foot condominium in New York, could bring in the money he needs.
If he decides against selling, the only inheritance left would be for his children.
The numerous proceedings could still be a significant problem for Trump.
It is not yet possible to estimate how this will affect his possible candidacy in the US election in November.
In any case, Trump is already using the trials to campaign and is once again portraying himself as the victim of a political campaign against him.
(nhi)