Juries found Trump liable for defamation and sexual abuse, but he hasn't paid one red cent
News and commentary from a Florida point of view for all Americans
“Justice too long delayed is justice denied.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
By J.C. Bruce
Donald Trump owes magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll about a $100 million for her two successful lawsuits against him in which he was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation.
The first verdict came in more than three years ago. The second, two-and-a-half years ago.
But Trump hasn’t paid her a dime.
He appealed those verdicts, but both were upheld by a federal appeals court. Trump wasn’t satisfied with that, so he is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, three of whose members he appointed, and in which Republican-leaning jurists hold a 6-3 majority.
All the while, the amount Trump owes is steadily climbing as interest accumulates, rising from the original $5 million and $83.3 million verdicts to about $100 million.
While Trump did have to post a $7.4 million bond to cover accumulating interest, Carroll won’t see a penny of this until the legal appeals process is concluded.
And it is taking years.
In the original $5 million suit, the Supreme Court has repeatedly delayed whether to hear the case over the past seven months, and, according to CNN, discussions of the case among the justices have been delayed and rescheduled 15 times.
That was the first lawsuit Carroll won. After her successful second lawsuit—the one in which she was awarded $83.3 million, Trump’s Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into her.
Trump also lost his appeal of that suit at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and is preparing his appeal to the Supreme Court.
Of note, in his appeal, Trump’s lawyers tried to argue that Trump had the right to exercise presidential immunity, so he should be removed as the defendant with the United States government replacing him. In other words, the taxpayers would have to pick up the tab.
The appeals court didn’t buy it.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on both the plaintiff and defendant in these cases. Carroll is 82, Trump has just turned 80.
And at the rate the courts are grinding this out, they both could die of old age before there’s any resolution.
Why is the Supreme Court dragging its feet?
There’s actually no way to know because the justices are tight lipped about such matters. There’s speculation they may want to consolidate both lawsuits into one ruling. But who knows?
What we do know is that two juries have concluded, based on the evidence, that Trump owes E. Jean Carroll for the damage he caused her, and that those decisions have been upheld on initial appeal.
And every day this drags on only increases doubts about the integrity and effectiveness of a plodding justice system that Trump has shown no hesitancy to abuse for his own benefit.
Justice delayed is, indeed, justice denied.
Related:
An explosive appeal from Trump over E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse verdict stalls at the Supreme Court
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J.C. Bruce
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It is appalling that these delays are happening... just further proof of the corruption that is running rampant through our government and in particular, the executive branch and "his" DOJ
How is it that Trump is allowed to vote? A convicted Felon who has not paid what the court has said he should pay. In Florida, this prevents you from voting.