Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
What criminal charges and convictions has Donald Trump faced related to sexual misconduct?
Executive summary
Donald Trump has faced dozens of public accusations of sexual misconduct going back to the 1970s, and a New York jury found him civilly liable in 2023 for sexually abusing columnist E. Jean Carroll, awarding her $5 million [1] [2]. Available sources report many allegations and civil cases, but they say he “has never been criminally charged for any sexual misconduct” [3]; most reporting documents civil verdicts, settlements, dropped suits, and allegations rather than criminal convictions [4] [5] [6].
1. A long catalog of allegations, mostly civil or uncharged
Reporting and compiled timelines show that roughly two dozen to nearly 30 women have publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct ranging from unwanted kissing and groping to allegations described as rape by some accusers; these accounts span decades and are catalogued by outlets such as Wikipedia, Business Insider and The Guardian [4] [5] [7]. Journalistic projects and books like All the President’s Women collected dozens of additional allegations but the majority resulted in media reports or civil suits rather than criminal prosecutions [8] [4].
2. The E. Jean Carroll civil verdict: the clearest legal finding
The most consequential legal outcome tied to sexual misconduct is the 2023 New York jury verdict finding Trump liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s and for defaming her when he denied the allegation; jurors awarded her $5 million [1] [2]. That verdict is civil liability, not a criminal conviction; subsequent appeals and related proceedings have followed, including Trump asking higher courts to overturn the verdict [9] [6].
3. Civil suits, settlements, and dropped claims — many resolutions outside criminal court
Several other claims resulted in civil litigation, settlements, or were dropped. Examples cited in reporting include Jill Harth’s 1997 litigation that was partly settled, and Ivana Trump’s 1989 allegations raised in divorce proceedings [4]. Media timelines note numerous accusations that produced no criminal charge but did produce legal action or public accusations [7] [5].
4. No criminal charges for sexual misconduct reported in these sources
Multiple outlets explicitly state that, as of the reporting in these sources, Trump “has never been charged for any sexual misconduct” despite the many allegations and civil findings [3]. The sources provided document civil liability and defamation findings but do not present a criminal indictment or criminal conviction tied to sexual misconduct [1] [3] [6].
5. How reporting distinguishes civil liability from criminal guilt
News outlets emphasize the legal distinction: civil juries can find liability based on lower burdens of proof and award damages, while criminal convictions require prosecutors to bring charges and prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Coverage of the Carroll case notes the jury’s liability finding and the separate defamation finding; it also underscores that this was a civil trial and Trump’s legal team is appealing [1] [2] [9].
6. Disagreements, denials, and political context
Trump and his representatives have denied the allegations, characterizing them as politically motivated or false; reporting quotes his denials and notes his strategy of litigating and counterattacking accusers in public and through appeals [4] [9]. Some coverage and legal filings from Trump’s side argue there were no eyewitnesses, no police reports, and that accusations surfaced years later — a defense emphasized in appeals and statements to courts [9].
7. Limitations in the available reporting
Available sources focus on high-profile civil outcomes and comprehensive allegation lists, but they do not claim to catalog every private settlement, sealed document, or unpublicized legal step; they also reflect journalistic compilations that vary slightly on the count of accusers [4] [5] [7]. If you are seeking a definitive legal chronology (every lawsuit, settlement, dismissal or appeal), available sources do not mention a single consolidated official docket covering all allegations; separate court records and filings would be necessary [6] [1].
8. What readers should take away
The record in these sources shows many public allegations against Trump over decades and at least one major civil finding of sexual abuse and defamation (E. Jean Carroll), but no criminal charges for sexual misconduct are reported here [1] [3]. Competing perspectives exist: accusers and many outlets present a pattern of alleged misconduct across decades, while Trump’s camp insists the claims are false or politically driven and is pursuing legal appeals [4] [9].