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What were the legal outcomes of sexual assault claims against Donald Trump?
Executive summary
Multiple civil rulings have found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll and for defaming her; juries awarded $5 million (sexual abuse/defamation verdict) and later larger defamation damages that appellate courts have at times upheld, and Trump has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court [1] [2] [3] [4]. Reporting and legal summaries show these are civil judgments (not criminal convictions) and that juries in the central Carroll trial did not find him liable for rape as defined under New York law [5] [6].
1. What juries actually decided: liability in civil court, not criminal guilt
The principal documented legal outcome is a 2023 federal civil jury verdict that found Trump liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s and for defaming her, awarding $5 million in damages; that was a civil finding of liability, not a criminal conviction [1] [7]. Multiple outlets emphasize the difference between civil liability and criminal guilt: the Carroll ruling was a civil judgment assessing damages, not a criminal verdict [7] [8].
2. The scope and amounts of damages awarded and later rulings
After the May 2023 jury award of $5 million, a separate proceeding resulted in an $83.3 million award to Carroll related to defamation claims, and reporting shows appellate courts have in some instances upheld these awards [2] [9]. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals expressly affirmed the $5 million award in December 2024, rejecting several of Trump’s arguments about trial errors [3] [10].
3. What appeals and further legal steps have followed
Trump’s legal team has repeatedly appealed these civil judgments. In late 2024 the Second Circuit affirmed the $5 million verdict; in 2025 Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Carroll finding, arguing, among other points, there were no eyewitnesses or police reports and that certain evidentiary rulings were erroneous [3] [4]. Court filings and news outlets report the Supreme Court petition is pending review and it is unclear whether the high court will take the case [4] [11].
4. What juries did and did not find about “rape” versus “sexual abuse”
Multiple reports note the juries found Trump liable for sexual abuse but did not find him liable for rape under New York’s penal code in the Carroll trials; media summaries stress the jury stopped short of a legal finding of rape even while finding sexual battery/abuse and defamation [5] [6] [7].
5. Evidence, witness testimony, and contested trial rulings
Trump’s appeals argued trial judge Lewis Kaplan erred by admitting testimony from two other women and other evidence; the Second Circuit rejected those claims when it affirmed the $5 million award [10]. Trump’s Supreme Court filing reiterates criticisms that there were no eyewitnesses, no video, and no police report, characterizing Carroll’s account as delayed and motivated by political or financial considerations; Carroll’s lawyers and other outlets emphasize different facts — including corroborating testimony and the jury’s evaluation of credibility [4] [10].
6. Wider context: other allegations and civil suits
Public summaries list numerous women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct over decades and note other civil suits that were withdrawn or settled; comprehensive timelines and Wikipedia-based compilations show at least dozens of allegations and a mix of settlements, withdrawn suits, dismissals, and the high-profile Carroll litigation [12]. Available sources do not provide exhaustive case-by-case legal outcomes for every allegation beyond the Carroll matter [12].
7. How media and fact-checkers frame the legal outcomes
News organizations and fact checks stress careful language: headlines sometimes shorten “found liable for sexual abuse in civil court” to “found liable for sexual assault,” which can be misread as a criminal finding; fact-checkers and outlets repeatedly clarify the civil nature of these judgments and the jury’s specific findings [13] [7].
8. Competing narratives and implicit agendas to note
Trump’s filings call the litigation “Liberal Lawfare” and describe the claims as politically motivated; his lawyers seek appellate and Supreme Court relief on evidentiary and legal grounds [4] [14]. Carroll’s team and supportive outlets present the jury findings and appellate affirmances as vindication for survivors and a court-verified finding of misconduct [10] [3]. Each side’s public statements serve partisan and reputational objectives that shape how the legal facts are presented [4] [10].
Limitations and next steps: reporting here draws only on the supplied sources; available sources do not mention outcomes for every individual allegation against Trump beyond the Carroll litigation and a few cited settlements or withdrawals [12]. Follow appellate dockets and Supreme Court orders for any changes to the Carroll judgments; if the Court takes the case, rulings could alter final legal liability.