Fact check: How many times was trump in court for sexual assault?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Donald Trump has been in court for sexual assault once in a confirmed legal proceeding that resulted in a verdict. In May 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll in a 1996 incident at Bergdorf Goodman, awarding her $5 million in damages ^{[1] [2]}. The jury specifically found Trump responsible for sexual abuse and defamation, though they did not find him liable for rape under the specific legal definition ^{[1] [2]}.

A federal appeals court subsequently upheld the $5 million verdict, rejecting Trump's lawyers' claims about trial errors and noting a pattern of similar behavior based on testimony from multiple women ^[3]. The appeals court found that evidence, including the infamous 'Access Hollywood' tape, corroborated the allegations of sexual misconduct ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question significantly understates the broader scope of sexual misconduct allegations against Trump. At least 25 women have publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct since the 1970s, including rape, kissing, groping without consent, and inappropriate behavior at beauty pageants ^{[1] [4]}. These allegations span from the 1970s to 2013 and include detailed accounts of forcible kissing, groping, and inappropriate conduct ^[4].

However, not all of these accusations resulted in court proceedings ^[1]. The E. Jean Carroll case represents the only confirmed instance where Trump faced a jury trial specifically for sexual assault allegations that resulted in a liability verdict.

Trump has consistently denied all allegations throughout this period ^{[1] [4]}. Despite these numerous allegations and the court verdict, Trump was elected to another presidential term, demonstrating that a significant portion of the electorate either dismissed these claims or prioritized other factors ^[4].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains no inherent misinformation but is significantly incomplete in scope. By asking only about court appearances for sexual assault, it fails to capture the full context of the allegations against Trump. The question could mislead readers into believing that formal court proceedings represent the entirety of sexual misconduct allegations, when in fact the vast majority of the 25+ allegations never reached trial ^{[1] [4]}.

The framing also doesn't distinguish between different types of legal proceedings - the Carroll case was a civil trial resulting in liability, not a criminal prosecution. This distinction is important for understanding the legal consequences and standards of proof involved.