Judge Lewis Kaplan has approved Donald Trump’s $91,630,000 bond in the defamation case brought by columnist E. Jean Carroll, according to an order filed Tuesday afternoon.
“Enforcement of the Judgment, to the extent that the Judgment awards damages, is STAYED pending the final disposition of the appeal by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit,” the order said.
The order stayed the execution of the judgment in the case while Trump appeals. If Trump’s appeal is unsuccessful, the bond ensures Carroll will be paid.
The former president had obtained an appeals bond from the Virginia-based Federal Insurance Company totaling $91,630,000 to cover the $83 million judgment in the case plus interest, according to a court filing on Friday. The conditions of the bond did not specify what assets Trump used to secure the bond.
Trump on Friday also filed a notice of appeal of the judgment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Either paying the judgment or posting a bond for the judgment’s full amount was required for him to move ahead with the appeal.
Trump attorney Alina Habba told ABC News on Friday they’re confident their appeal will result in the judgment being overturned.
In this April 26, 2023, file photo, E. Jean Carroll departs the Southern District of New York Court on Pearl Street after a long day of testimony, in New York.
NY Daily News via Getty Images, FILE
By posting a bond, Trump guaranteed that Carroll could collect the judgment if the former president exhausts his appeal, former federal prosecutor Josh Naftalis had told ABC News.
The appeal process could take more than a year, Naftalis said. Trump is still appealing the $5 million judgment a jury awarded to Carroll last May after determining the former president had sexually abused her.
The former president in January was ordered to pay $83.3 million in damages to Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, for defaming her in 2019 when he denied her allegation that he sexually abused her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. Trump, who said Carroll was “totally lying” and that she was “not my type,” has denied all wrongdoing.
A judge has recently granted approval for a $91.6 million bond in the defamation case involving former President Donald Trump and writer E. Jean Carroll. The case stems from allegations made by Carroll that Trump sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.
Carroll first came forward with her allegations in a 2019 book, prompting Trump to deny the claims and call her a liar. In response, Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump, accusing him of damaging her reputation and causing her emotional distress.
The $91.6 million bond approved by the judge is meant to cover potential damages that Carroll may be awarded if she wins the case. This is a significant amount, reflecting the seriousness of the allegations and the potential impact on Carroll’s life and career.
The case has been closely watched as it raises important questions about the power dynamics between public figures and private citizens, as well as the legal protections afforded to individuals who come forward with allegations of sexual assault.
It is also significant in the context of the #MeToo movement, which has brought increased attention to issues of sexual harassment and assault and has led to a greater willingness among survivors to speak out and seek justice.
The approval of the $91.6 million bond is a positive development for Carroll and her legal team, as it indicates that the judge takes her claims seriously and is willing to hold Trump accountable for his alleged actions. It also sends a strong message that defamation and attacks on survivors will not be tolerated.
As the case moves forward, it will be important to continue to follow developments and see how it may impact future cases involving allegations of sexual assault and harassment. Ultimately, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for how survivors are treated and believed in the legal system.
