It happened in a dressing room. That’s the core of the story E. Jean Carroll told a jury, and honestly, it’s the detail that sticks. But if you’ve been following the news lately, you know the Trump sexual assault case is about way more than just one afternoon at Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-90s. It’s a messy, expensive, and legally complex saga that’s stretched across decades and cost the former president nearly $90 million in total damages.
Most people think this was a criminal trial. It wasn't. This was civil court. In a criminal case, you need "beyond a reasonable doubt." In a civil case like this one, the bar is lower—it’s "preponderance of the evidence." Basically, is it more likely than not? A jury of nine New Yorkers sat there, listened to the evidence, and said, "Yeah, it is."
The Verdict That Changed Everything
When the jury came back in May 2023, they didn't find Donald Trump liable for "rape" under the very specific, narrow definition in New York law at the time. That definition required penetration by a penis. However, they did find him liable for sexual abuse. Specifically, they found that he forcibly and non-consensually penetrated Carroll with his fingers.
Judge Lewis Kaplan later clarified this for anyone confused. He basically said that just because it didn't meet the technical "penal law" definition of rape doesn't mean it wasn't rape in the way most of us use the word. He even called the accusation "substantially true."
Trump didn't take it sitting down. He called it a "disgrace" and a "witch hunt." He’s been saying that for years. But every time he opened his mouth to call Carroll a liar after the verdict, the price tag went up.
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Why the Money Kept Piling Up
The first trial, often called Carroll II, ended with a $5 million award. That’s a lot of money, but it was just the beginning.
- Sexual Battery: $2 million for the actual assault.
- Defamation: $2.7 million for his 2022 comments.
- Punitive Damages: $280,000 to basically say "don't do it again."
Then came Carroll I. This was actually the first lawsuit filed (back in 2019) but the last to go to trial. Because the first jury already decided Trump had committed the assault, the second jury wasn't there to decide if he did it. They were only there to decide how much he should pay for defaming her while he was President.
The result? A staggering $83.3 million.
The jury wanted to send a message. They saw a man with a massive platform using it to crush a woman’s reputation. Carroll’s lawyers, led by Roberta Kaplan, argued that it would take a massive sum to make a billionaire stop.
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The Evidence Beyond the Dressing Room
You might wonder how a jury decides something that happened 30 years ago with no DNA and no video. It wasn't just Carroll’s word against his. The "Access Hollywood" tape played a huge role. You remember the one—where he talked about grabbing women. The judge allowed it as evidence of "propensity."
Two other women, Natasha Stoynoff and Jessica Leeds, also testified. They told remarkably similar stories of sudden, forceful advances.
- Leeds talked about an encounter on a plane in the late 70s.
- Stoynoff described being pushed against a wall at Mar-a-Lago in 2005.
These weren't random stories. They were used to show a pattern. A "modus operandi," as the lawyers call it.
The Strategy That Backfired
Trump’s legal team, including Alina Habba, went with a scorched-earth policy. They tried to paint Carroll as a "wack job" looking for publicity or a political operative. Trump himself didn't even show up for the first trial.
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Honestly? That might have been a mistake. When you don't show up to defend yourself against an accusation that serious, juries notice. In his deposition, which was played for the jury, Trump even mistook a photo of E. Jean Carroll for his ex-wife, Marla Maples. It completely undercut his repeated defense that she "wasn't his type."
Where the Case Stands in 2026
We are now well into 2026, and the legal battles haven't fully vanished, though the "meat" of the case is settled. Trump appealed everything. He tried to claim presidential immunity, arguing he was just doing his job when he denied the claims in 2019. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals wasn't buying it. In September 2025, they upheld the $83.3 million judgment.
Trump has had to put up massive bonds—over $90 million in total—just to keep the appeals going. That money is sitting in a court-controlled account. If he loses the final stretches of his legal maneuvers, that money goes straight to Carroll.
Surprising Facts You Might Have Missed
- The Adult Survivors Act: This case only happened because New York passed a special law in 2022. It opened a one-year "look-back" window for sexual assault victims to sue, even if the statute of limitations had expired decades ago.
- The DNA Factor: Carroll’s team had a dress with "unidentified male DNA" on it. They tried for years to get a sample from Trump. Eventually, the court moved on without it because the testimony was so strong.
- The ABC News Settlement: In a weird side-plot, Trump actually settled a defamation case with ABC News for about $15 million in late 2024 because an anchor said he was found liable for "rape" instead of "sexual abuse." It shows how thin the legal ice is for everyone involved.
What This Means for You
Whether you love the guy or hate him, this case changed the legal landscape for survivors of sexual assault. It proved that even the most powerful person in the world can be held accountable in a civil courtroom if the evidence is consistent.
If you’re trying to wrap your head around the Trump sexual assault case, remember that it’s not just about a "he-said, she-said" from the 90s. It’s about the legal weight of reputation and the power of the "look-back" laws.
Your Next Steps for Following the Case
- Check the Bond Status: Keep an eye on the New York court filings to see when the $90 million bond is officially released to Carroll.
- Read the Jury Instructions: If you want to see exactly how the jury was told to weigh the evidence, the transcripts from Judge Kaplan’s courtroom are public record and provide a fascinating look at the "preponderance of evidence" standard.
- Monitor the Supreme Court Docket: While the Second Circuit has ruled, there is always a slim chance of a petition for certiorari to the highest court regarding the immunity claims.
This isn't just political theater. It's a landmark set of trials that redefined how we handle old allegations in the modern era. The paper trail is long, the money is real, and the legal precedents are now set in stone.