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Has Donald Trump faced other sexual misconduct allegations or trials?
Executive summary
Donald Trump has been publicly accused by dozens of women of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1970s; major outlets and compiled lists put that number at "at least 26–28" women [1] [2]. The most consequential legal matter so far is the E. Jean Carroll civil cases: a 2023 jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her, awarding $5 million (upheld on appeal and part of larger post-trial rulings discussed in later filings) [3] [4] [5].
1. A long list of public allegations: quantity, scope, and sources
Reporting and compilations show a substantial number of public accusations against Trump spanning decades — summary tallies include "at least 26" (Business Insider) and "at least 28" (Wikipedia), and books such as All the President’s Women collected dozens more allegations [2] [1] [6]. Those allegations cover a range of alleged conduct from unwanted kissing and groping to claims of rape; outlets differ on exact counts because new claims and separate compilations have emerged over time [1] [6].
2. The E. Jean Carroll civil trials: the clearest legal outcome
The most developed legal episode is E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuits. A New York jury in May 2023 found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and for defamation, awarding her $5 million; that finding was described in contemporaneous reporting and subsequently reviewed and upheld in an appeals panel decision in late 2024 [3] [4] [5]. Trump has appealed and sought Supreme Court review of aspects of the rulings and evidence admitted at trial [7] [8].
3. What the Carroll verdict legally represents — and what it does not
News outlets emphasize that the Carroll verdict was a civil finding of liability, not a criminal conviction; juries in that civil case found Trump liable for sexual abuse under civil standards and also found defamation, which carries monetary damages [3] [4]. Reporting notes the jury rejected some claims (for example, some reporting recounts the jury’s approach to the rape allegation and distinctions in damages), and judges and appeals panels have grappled with evidentiary rulings about testimony from other women [9] [5].
4. Other allegations and reporting beyond Carroll
Multiple media investigations and books have assembled many separate accusations against Trump — for instance, the 2019 book All the President’s Women included dozens of allegations and journalists later reported on additional individual claims such as incidents at Mar-a-Lago [6] [1]. The Guardian and other outlets have published timelines cataloging claims and incidents across years, noting specific alleged episodes and named accusers [10].
5. How courts and appeals handled related evidence and testimony
Appeals judges and trial judges have repeatedly addressed whether testimony from other accusers could be admitted as evidence of pattern or propensity; appellate panels upheld key evidentiary decisions in Carroll’s case, rejecting some of Trump’s arguments that those rulings spoiled the trial [5] [7]. Trump’s legal team continues to contest these rulings, including filings seeking Supreme Court review arguing trial judge errors [7] [8].
6. Competing narratives: Trump’s denials and critics’ framing
Trump has consistently denied the allegations and framed them as politically motivated or false, and his appeals argue legal errors in the trials [7]. By contrast, Carroll’s legal victory has been characterized by some outlets as a rare civil legal finding against a powerful public figure, and advocates and reporters who compiled lists of accusers argue the pattern of allegations is notable [5] [1].
7. Limits of available reporting and remaining questions
Available sources document numerous public allegations and the Carroll civil verdict and appeals, but they do not provide a single authoritative count that all outlets agree on; different compilations list 26, 28, or more allegations [2] [1]. Sources do not claim every allegation resulted in a trial; beyond Carroll, available reporting does not detail other trials that produced criminal convictions against Trump [5] [4]. For any particular allegation beyond Carroll, readers should consult the specific reportage or legal filings cited in those timelines.
8. Why this matters politically and legally
Media coverage and legal rulings have made the Carroll case a tangible legal determination with financial damages and appellate review, and news organizations note the broader accumulation of allegations as context for public perception and political debate [3] [10] [6]. At the same time, legal outcomes differ from public allegations: the only widely reported civil finding of liability in the sources provided is the E. Jean Carroll matter [4] [5].
If you want, I can compile a timeline of named allegations and the original reporting or legal filings for each, using the sources you provided.