Trump rape
Executive summary
E. Jean Carroll won a $5 million civil judgment in 2023 after a jury found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing her and defaming her; that judgment was upheld on appeal by the Second Circuit on December 30, 2024, and again on June 13, 2025 [1] [2]. Multiple other women have made allegations ranging from groping to attempted rape over decades; some cases have been pursued in civil suits and one plaintiff recently refiled an allegation alleging rape when she was a minor linked to Jeffrey Epstein [3] [4].
1. The Carroll verdict and what it means legally
A New York jury in May 2023 found Trump civilly liable for sexually abusing columnist E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s and for defaming her; the jury awarded Carroll roughly $5 million, and judges on the Second Circuit later upheld that judgment, with courts characterizing Carroll’s rape allegation as “substantially true” in some rulings [5] [1] [2]. Civil liability is not a criminal conviction; the Carroll case proceeded under the lower “preponderance of the evidence” standard used in civil trials, and while juries and judges used language about sexual abuse and rape in explaining their rulings, the original jury did not find Trump criminally guilty of rape [5] [6].
2. Other high-profile allegations and patterns reported
Reporting and timelines compiled by outlets including The Guardian and various long-form summaries document a string of allegations stretching back decades — from groping claims to accusations described as attempted rape — made by at least dozens of women, some of whom testified or submitted declarations in civil proceedings that courts found relevant to establishing a pattern of conduct [3] [2] [6]. Journalistic timelines and court filings often cite similar episodes: unwanted kisses, groping, and assaults alleged at social events and private encounters, which sources say helped shape judges’ and jurors’ views in certain civil matters [3] [2].
3. New and revived lawsuits tied to Epstein-era allegations
In late 2025, a plaintiff identified as Jane Doe refiled a federal complaint alleging rape by Trump when she was 13 at a private party linked to Jeffrey Epstein; the refiled complaint repeats graphic allegations and invokes prior declarations about forcible rape and threats [4]. That complaint restates claims first filed and then voluntarily dismissed; Courthouse News Service reports the suit includes allegations that Trump and Epstein both sexually abused the same victim and that Trump told the plaintiff he would “do whatever he pleased” [4].
4. What appeals and court language reveal about evidentiary issues
Appellate rulings in Carroll’s case, and related judicial commentary, focused heavily on evidentiary decisions—whether testimony from other accusers could be admitted to show a “pattern” and how juries should be instructed about definitions like rape and sexual abuse under New York law. The 2nd Circuit’s rulings and later denials of rehearing meant lower-court evidentiary choices stood, prompting Trump’s team to seek further review up to the Supreme Court [6] [7]. Politically and legally charged language from judges that Carroll’s claim was “substantially true” has been cited by media and plaintiffs’ counsel as significant; defense teams argue such rulings reflect improper propensity evidence [1] [7].
5. Criminal vs. civil distinctions and public perception
Available reporting underscores a core distinction: several of the most-publicized actions against Trump have been civil judgments or pending civil suits, not criminal convictions for rape. News outlets and fact-checkers caution that civil findings do not equal criminal guilt, even as they alter reputational and legal consequences and inform subsequent litigation and public debate [5] [8]. Sources show that civil rulings have had political ramifications, influencing appointments and public reactions, while criminal probes and charges on other subjects continued separately [9] [8].
6. Competing narratives and the limits of present reporting
Trump and his lawyers have consistently denied these allegations, sought appeals, and characterized verdicts as politically motivated or legally flawed; they have asked the Supreme Court to overturn at least one civil verdict, arguing evidentiary errors and improper use of testimony by other accusers [7]. At the same time, courts and juries have accepted certain survivors’ accounts as credible for civil liability purposes [2] [5]. Available sources do not mention criminal convictions for rape of Donald Trump, nor do they provide a final, unambiguous criminal adjudication on most historical sexual-assault allegations (not found in current reporting).
Limitations and bottom line: reporting and court documents in the provided sources document successful civil findings of sexual abuse and defamation (most prominently E. Jean Carroll’s $5 million judgment) and multiple other allegations, including a refiled lawsuit alleging childhood rape tied to Epstein; sources also show vigorous denials and ongoing appeals from Trump’s side [1] [4] [7]. Readers should treat civil verdicts, criminal charges, and allegations as legally and evidentially distinct while following appeals and any criminal investigations for future developments [5] [7].