Fact check: Was Trump convicted of rape?

1. Summary of the results

Donald Trump was not criminally convicted of rape, but he was found civilly liable for sexual abuse in the E. Jean Carroll case in 2023 ^{[1] [2]}. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages and specifically rejected the rape charge under New York's narrow legal definition, while finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation ^[1].

However, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan later clarified that while the jury did not find Trump guilty of rape under New York's strict legal definition, the conduct he was found liable for would commonly be understood as rape ^[3]. The judge emphasized that the jury effectively found Trump had raped Carroll, just not by the narrowest legal standard ^[3]. A subsequent trial in January 2024 resulted in an additional $83.3 million judgment against Trump ^[2].

Beyond the Carroll case, at least 25 women have publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct, including rape, groping, and inappropriate behavior spanning decades ^{[4] [5]}. These allegations include the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood tape where Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about the distinction between criminal conviction and civil liability. Trump has consistently denied all allegations and characterized them as politically motivated ^[5]. He promised to appeal the Carroll verdict and maintained he did not know Carroll ^[1]. Trump immediately claimed the verdict was a "witch hunt" following the jury's decision ^[1].

The question also omits the broader pattern of allegations, as about two dozen women have made accusations spanning decades, including allegations of groping, unwanted kissing, and inappropriate behavior during beauty pageants ^[4].

Carroll's lawyer emphasized that the verdict proved "nobody is above the law" ^[1], representing one perspective on the case's significance, while Trump's supporters would likely view this as part of ongoing political persecution.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question "Was Trump convicted of rape?" is technically misleading because it conflates criminal conviction with civil liability. Trump was never criminally charged or convicted of rape. The phrasing could lead people to believe there was a criminal rape conviction when the actual legal finding was civil liability for sexual abuse.

However, the question could also be interpreted as seeking clarification about Judge Kaplan's statement that Trump had effectively raped Carroll according to common understanding ^{[3] [2]}, which adds complexity to how one might answer this question accurately. The distinction between legal definitions and common understanding of terms creates potential for confusion in public discourse about this case.