Fact check: Has Donald trump been found guilty of rape

1. Summary of the results

Donald Trump was NOT found guilty of rape. This is a crucial distinction that needs to be clarified. Instead, he was found liable in a civil trial for sexual abuse and defamation ^{[1] [2]}. The case was decided using a "preponderance of evidence" standard, which is a lower threshold than what would be required in a criminal trial ^[1]. The jury awarded $5 million in damages ^[2], but specifically answered "No" to whether Carroll proved rape, while answering "Yes" to sexual abuse and forcible touching claims ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual points are missing from the original question:

• This was E. Jean Carroll's civil case against Trump, making her the first among at least 26 women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct to secure a court verdict ^[4]
• The accusations against Trump span from the 1980s to 2013 and involve various women including pageant contestants, business associates, and journalists ^[5]
• Trump did not attend the trial and maintains his innocence, characterizing the verdict as a "witch hunt" ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question demonstrates a common misunderstanding about the nature of the case:

• Using the term "guilty" is misleading as it implies a criminal conviction, when this was actually a civil case ^{[2] [1]}
• The distinction between "liable" (civil) and "guilty" (criminal) is crucial for understanding the legal implications
• Different stakeholders benefit from different interpretations:
• Trump's supporters benefit from emphasizing that this was not a criminal conviction and that he wasn't found liable for rape specifically
• Trump's opponents benefit from emphasizing that he was found liable for sexual abuse and had to pay significant damages
• Media outlets on different sides of the political spectrum may emphasize different aspects of the verdict to serve their narrative