What specific sexual misconduct claims are included in the latest lawsuits against Donald Trump?
Executive summary
The most detailed, legally adjudicated sexual-misconduct claims in the latest lawsuits against Donald Trump center on writer E. Jean Carroll’s allegations that he sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s—claims that led a federal jury to find Trump liable for sexual abuse (including forcible digital penetration) and defamation and to award Carroll $5 million; that verdict was upheld on appeal in December 2024 and again in June 2025 [1] [2]. Reporting and timelines also catalog scores of other public accusations — at least a dozen or more women have made allegations of groping, unwanted kissing, or other sexual misconduct over decades — though most of those were not tried in court [3] [4].
1. The central legal claim: E. Jean Carroll’s allegation of forcible sexual contact
E. Jean Carroll’s civil suits are the clearest, most fully litigated example: Carroll alleged Trump sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s at a department store, including that he “pulled down her tights,” groped around her genitals, and raped her; a federal jury in 2023 found Trump liable for sexual abuse (including forcible touching and battery), and later courts affirmed a $5 million damages award for sexual abuse and defamation [1] [2] [5]. The district judge instructed jurors on three categories of battery — rape, sexual abuse, and forcible touching — and the record and appeals courts have repeatedly reviewed and upheld the liability findings [1] [2].
2. The defamation element tied to denials and public statements
Carroll’s case combined an underlying sexual-assault allegation with claims Trump defamed her by publicly denying the assault; the jury found for Carroll on defamation as well as sexual abuse, and that defamation award was part of the litigation affirmed on appeal [2] [1]. Trump’s lawyers have repeatedly appealed and sought higher review, arguing evidentiary issues and procedural defenses; Trump petitioned the Supreme Court to review the verdict and has characterized Carroll’s claims as politically motivated [6] [1].
3. What other allegations appear in the record and reporting
Beyond Carroll, reporting and compiled timelines list many other women who have accused Trump of a range of misconduct — unwanted kissing, groping, and other forms of sexual harassment or assault — stretching back decades. The Guardian’s timeline and other outlets document claims by multiple women including incidents alleged in the 1980s and 1990s; however, most of those claims did not proceed to trial and many were settled, withdrawn, or remain allegations in media accounts [4] [7].
4. Lawsuits that were filed but not fully adjudicated or that were settled/withdrawn
Several reported civil suits or filings alleged more serious conduct — for example, older lawsuits in the 1990s by Jill Harth and other claimants alleged forcible kissing, groping, or attempted rape but were later dropped or settled; other high-profile accusations (including claims tied in reporting to Jeffrey Epstein’s social circle) have produced filings that were dismissed or withdrawn, according to timeline reporting and later coverage [7] [8] [9]. News sources emphasize that many allegations never reached trial, limiting what courts have officially found [3].
5. Courts, appeals and contested legal arguments
After the jury verdicts, appellate courts reviewed the rulings: the Second Circuit upheld the $5 million verdict against Trump in December 2024 and again denied en banc review in June 2025; Trump continued to seek review of those decisions, framing procedural and constitutional challenges, including claims about evidence or presidential immunity — legal arguments that courts have so far rejected in sustaining the damages awards [1] [10].
6. Divergent perspectives and limitations in the public record
Reporting contains two sharply opposed frames: Carroll and other accusers present detailed accounts of non-consensual touching and its impacts, while Trump and his lawyers describe the claims as false, politically motivated, or legally flawed and emphasize lack of eyewitnesses or contemporaneous police reports; the Supreme Court filing cited by Trump’s team highlights those defense claims [6] [1]. Available sources do not mention other specific new lawsuits beyond Carroll with the same level of adjudicated detail; many public allegations remain untried or resolved outside court [3] [4].
7. What this means going forward
The Carroll litigation remains the predominant, court-verified sexual-misconduct finding against Trump in the available reporting: a jury finding of sexual abuse and defamation with appellate affirmations and ongoing appeals to higher courts [2] [1]. Other allegations documented in timelines and reporting provide broader pattern context but lack equivalent court findings or consistent public-record outcomes [4] [7]. The public record therefore combines a core, litigated verdict with numerous, variably substantiated allegations that continue to be disputed by Trump and his lawyers [2] [6].