Jean Carroll intends to use defamation money to fund more sexual abuse trials against Donald Trump

E. Jean Carroll, who recently secured an $83 million victory in her defamation trial against Donald Trump, revealed she intends to spend a substantial sum of money on something ‘Trump hates’, in an interview with Good Morning America. The jury awarded Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages and an additional $65 million in punitive retribution, emphasising Trump’s responsibility to pay $11 million for a reputational repair campaign and $7.3 million for emotional harm caused by his 2019 statements against her. In her first public comments after the trial, Carroll expressed elation about the verdict, describing it as a fulfilling moment. When asked about her plans for the awarded millions, Carroll stated her intent to direct the funds toward causes that Donald Trump dislikes. She hinted at the possibility of contributing to a fund supporting women who have alleged sexual assault by Trump. Trump, reacting on his Truth Social platform, denounced the decision as “absolutely ridiculous” and announced plans to file an appeal. His lawyer, Alina Habba, raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest involving Judge Lewis Kaplan, citing a New York Post article. Kaplan’s chambers did not immediately respond to inquiries. Despite Trump’s combative response, Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, expressed confidence in collecting the awarded funds. Kaplan acknowledged that the process might not be immediate but emphasised Trump’s substantial real estate holdings, indicating their intent to enforce the judgment. Reflecting on the trial, Carroll described seeing Trump as akin to witnessing “an emperor without clothes,” a sentiment sharply contrasting with her pre-trial anxiety. This trial, distinct from a previous one where Carroll won $5 million, concluded with a more subdued atmosphere, except for a noteworthy moment when Trump walked out during Kaplan’s closing statement. Commenting on this, Kaplan suggested that Trump’s departure during the closing statement may have contributed to Carroll winning an additional $10 million. She remarked on the irony of Trump, whom they allege to be a bully, exhibiting behavior inconsistent with legal proceedings. Kaplan concluded by stating that if Trump were to defame Carroll again, they would pursue another case, potentially resulting in further financial consequences for the former president.