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May 9 (UPI) -- A Manhattan jury unanimously determined that former President Donald Trump battered and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll. The jury found that Trump, beyond a preponderance of evidence, sexually abused Carroll in a New York City department store in the 1990s. It did not, however, reach a unanimous agreement that he raped Carroll.
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The jury ruled that Trump must pay $2 million in compensation and $20,000 in punitive damages for battery. For defamation, the jury awarded Carroll $1.7 million for reputational repair, and $1 million in compensatory damages, and $280,000 in punitive damages.
The jury entered deliberations shortly before noon, according to NBC News, after receiving instructions on the law and a 10-question verdict from by U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan. The six men and three women on the jury were charged with determining if Trump sexually assaulted Carroll or defamed her by publicly accusing her of lying about the alleged incident.
After the verdict was announced, Trump posted on social media that he does not know who Carroll is.
"I have absolutely no idea who this woman is," he posted. "This verdict is a disgrace -- a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time!"
Carroll had alleged that Trump raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. Two witnesses for the prosecution testified that Carroll told them about the assault shortly after it happened. Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff testified that Trump had similarly sexually assaulted them in separate incidents.
The allegations stem from an incident about 30 years ago on an unspecified date, but Carroll was allowed to file the lawsuit against Trump under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which was enacted almost a year ago. In December, five women filed a lawsuit against former television star Bill Cosby under this law, which gives sexual abuse survivors the opportunity to take legal action against abusers in cases that would be restricted by the statute of limitations.
Though Trump did not testify in the case, video of his deposition by Carroll's attorneys was made public on Friday. In the video, Trump mistook Carroll for his ex-wife Marla Maples in a photo from the 1980s. Trump then said Carroll was not his "type."
Trump's defense team claimed that the case against him is politically motivated. In closing statements on Monday, attorney Joe Tacopina said the jury must disregard its feelings about Trump and focus on the facts of the case.
"People have very strong feelings about Donald Trump," he said. "There's a time and a secret place to do that. It's called a ballot box during an election."
For Trump to face punishment, the jury had to unanimously determine that Carroll's claims had been proven by a preponderance of evidence, a lower bar of scrutiny than beyond a reasonable doubt.
On his social media page earlier Tuesday, Trump reasserted his dismissal of the allegations against him in both this case and the hush money case against him also in Manhattan. In the post, he said he will appeal the "unconstitutional silencing -- as a candidate, no matter the outcome."
Kaplan gave Trump until Sunday afternoon to declare whether or not he would take the stand in the rape case, which he declined to do.
In a court filing to the judge on Sunday, Carroll's attorney reiterated concerns over at least two social media posts Trump had made on April 26 relating to the case. Tacopina had assured the judge that the posts would be removed but they remained on Trump's page. Carroll's attorney said she was concerned that Trump was "making extrajudicial statements about inadmissible and prejudicial evidence," and attempting to influence the jury.
The judge had previously acknowledged issues with Trump's posts.
"We continue to object to Mr. Trump's public statements about evidence the Court held to be inadmissible at trial remain concerned about the prejudice that his statements may have already caused Plaintiff in these proceedings," the court filing read.
