'Greatest witch hunt of all time!': Donald Trump slams jury after it finds he sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll

9 May 2023, 20:23 | Updated: 11 May 2023, 09:36

A New York jury has found that Donald Trump sexually abused a magazine columnist in a New York department store during the 1990s.

The jury - consisting of six men and three women - began deliberations after writer E Jean Carroll accused Trump of battery, defamation and rape.

Trump was found liable for battery and defamation, though the civil jury rejected the rape claim made by Ms Carroll.

The alleged incident happened in Manhattan in October 2022, and defamed Ms Carroll in a post on Truth Social - a social media platform created by Trump Media.

Donald Trump vows to appeal against verdict in sexual abuse civil case

Donald Trump vows to appeal against verdict in sexual abuse civil case

Speaking on the platform Truth Social once again, the former US president wrote: "I have absolutely no idea who this woman is.

"This verdict is a disgrace - a continuation the greatest witch hunt of all time!"

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Following the verdict, the court awarded the former Elle magazine advice columnist $3m (£2.4m) in damages for defamation, and a further $2m (£1.6m) for battery.

The post which triggered the civil law suit saw Trump refer to Ms Carroll's accusations of sexual assault as a "con job".

The verdict followed a seven-day civil trial in New York and the nature of such a case in a civil rather than criminal court means Mr Trump will not face criminal charges.

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Jurors spent just three hours deliberated as part of the court case before finding Trump guilty on two counts.

Ms Carroll, 79, claimed the former President raped her in a dressing room in either 1995 or 1996 at a department store in Manhattan.

She also claims that Mr Trump denying the incident had ever happened subsequently ruined her reputation.

Mr Trump did not attend the trial in New York and has always insisted he never sexually assaulted the columnist - or even knew her.

“We’re very happy”, she told reporters as she was mobbed leaving the courthouse in New York.