Defamation defeat a double-edged sword for Trump - BBC News

An $83m bill is a message to Mr Trump to stop defaming his rape accuser, experts say. But will it work?

1 day agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIndictments of Donald TrumpImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Donald Trump has framed his legal woes as part of a 'witch hunt' against him by his political opponentsBy Sam CabralBBC NewsA New York jury has said Donald Trump must pay $83.3m (£65.6m) to E Jean Carroll, a writer he was found to have defamed by denying her allegation of sexual assault. Legal experts say the award is a message to the former president to stop smearing her. But will it work?

Last year Ms Carroll won another civil case in which a separate jury found Mr Trump legally responsible for sexually abusing and defaming her, and awarded her $5m in damages.

The outcome in the first case did nothing to deter the former president in denying Ms Carroll's story, personally attacking the writer and claiming he had never met her.

But after Friday's hefty legal bill, he notably did not denigrate the former Elle columnist in his reaction online, instead calling the case a "Biden Directed Witch Hunt".

Mr Trump - who is currently facing four criminal indictments and could soon have to dish out millions more dollars in a New York civil trial relating to business fraud - has often claimed the cases against him are politically motivated.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68114676?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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