Fact check: Trump charged with rape in new york

1. Summary of the results

The original statement "Trump charged with rape in new york" is technically inaccurate regarding the specific legal outcome. A jury in New York found Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation against E. Jean Carroll, but not for rape under New York's narrow legal definition ^{[1] [2] [3]}. The case resulted in $88.3 million in total damages across two separate lawsuits - $5 million in the first trial (May 2023) and $83.3 million in the second trial (January 2024) ^[3].

However, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan made a crucial clarification that while the jury did not find Trump liable for rape under New York's strict legal definition, the conduct found proved rape as commonly understood ^[4]. The judge explicitly stated that the jury found Trump forcibly penetrated Carroll, effectively confirming the rape allegation despite the technical legal distinction ^[4].

The case involved allegations that Trump sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in 1996, which Trump consistently denied ^[1]. A federal appeals court upheld the sexual abuse verdict, rejecting Trump's appeal ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits several critical legal distinctions and outcomes:

• The difference between criminal charges and civil liability - Trump was not criminally charged with rape but found civilly liable for sexual abuse ^{[1] [2]}
• The technical legal definition versus common understanding - While not legally classified as rape under New York's narrow statute, the judge clarified it constituted rape as commonly understood ^[4]
• The defamation component - The case included significant defamation claims, with Carroll stating the victory was "not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed" ^[1]
• Recent legal developments - ABC News settled a defamation lawsuit with Trump for $15 million after George Stephanopoulos repeatedly stated Trump was found liable for rape, acknowledging the technical legal distinction ^[5]

Media organizations and legal commentators benefit from emphasizing either the technical legal outcome or the judge's broader interpretation, depending on their editorial stance. Trump and his legal team benefit from highlighting the technical distinction that he was not found liable for rape under the strict legal definition.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement contains misleading terminology by using "charged" instead of "found liable" - this is a civil case, not a criminal prosecution ^{[1] [3]}. The word "charged" implies criminal proceedings, which did not occur in this case.

The statement also oversimplifies the legal outcome by stating "rape" when the jury specifically found Trump liable for sexual abuse but not rape under New York's legal definition ^{[1] [2]}. However, this oversimplification may reflect the judge's clarification that the conduct constituted rape as commonly understood ^[4].

The $15 million ABC News settlement demonstrates the legal and financial consequences of mischaracterizing the verdict, as the network had to pay damages and issue a public apology for repeatedly stating Trump was found liable for rape ^[5].