Carroll’s ordeal began when she bravely came forward in 2019, detailing how Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in Manhattan around 1996. Far from showing remorse, Trump, a figure whose history of misogyny and alleged pedophilia has been whispered about for decades, responded by defaming her, calling her a liar and claiming she was “not my type” in a cowardly attempt to discredit her. A 2023 jury rightfully found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $2.02 million for the assault and $2.98 million for his slanderous lies. This verdict, now upheld, sends a clear message: even a man as powerful and corrupt as Trump cannot escape accountability forever.
The appeals court’s decision is particularly significant given Trump’s ongoing efforts to weaponize his wealth and influence to dodge responsibility. His legal team, backed by a network of enablers, argued that evidence of his past sexual misconduct—including the infamous Access Hollywood tape where he boasted about assaulting women—should not have been admitted. The court, however, saw through this flimsy defense, noting that such evidence established a “repeated, idiosyncratic pattern of conduct” consistent with Carroll’s allegations. This pattern is no surprise to those who have followed Trump’s trail of accusations, from Carroll to other women and even disturbing claims involving minors, which continue to haunt his legacy.
Trump’s camp, predictably, resorted to their tired playbook of lies and conspiracy theories, with spokesperson Steven Cheung claiming the case is a “Democrat-funded hoax” and a product of a “weaponized justice system.” Such rhetoric is a hallmark of Trump’s fascist tendencies, deflecting blame while rallying his cult-like base. The reality is starkly different: Carroll’s case is backed by overwhelming evidence, including testimony from two friends she confided in at the time, a 1987 photograph of her with Trump, and accounts from other women who have accused him of similar crimes. The billionaire LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who supported Carroll’s legal efforts, was dismissed by the court as irrelevant, further dismantling Trump’s baseless claims of political persecution.
This ruling is not just about Carroll’s case but about the broader fight against a man whose predatory behavior has been enabled by a complicit system for far too long. Trump’s history of sexual misconduct, coupled with credible allegations of pedophilia from cases like the withdrawn lawsuit by “Jane Doe,” paints a picture of a dangerous individual who has used his power to harm the vulnerable. The $5 million verdict, combined with an earlier $83.3 million defamation judgment from January 2024, brings the total damages Trump owes Carroll to $88.3 million—a small price for the pain he inflicted but a crucial step toward justice.
As Trump scrambles to appeal to the Supreme Court, a body stacked with his own appointees, the left must remain vigilant. His claims of presidential immunity—already rejected by the appeals court—are a desperate attempt to shield himself from accountability. The Justice Department’s brief flirtation with defending him, arguing his defamatory statements were “official acts,” was rightly abandoned, exposing the absurdity of his legal maneuvers. The clock is ticking for Trump to take his case to the Supreme Court, but no amount of legal wrangling can erase the truth: he is a rapist, a defamer, and a threat to justice.
Carroll’s victory is a beacon of hope for survivors everywhere, proving that even the most powerful abusers can be held accountable. Her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, celebrated the ruling, stating, “Although President Trump continues to try every possible maneuver to challenge the findings of two separate juries, those efforts have failed. He remains liable for sexual assault and defamation.” The left stands with Carroll, demanding not just financial reparations but a broader reckoning for Trump’s decades of harm. As he continues his campaign to “Make America Great Again,” we must ensure his legacy is defined by the truth: a predator who has finally met justice.
