In a high-profile New York defamation trial, E Jean Carroll, a writer and journalist, won $83.3 million in damages against former President Donald Trump. This decision comes after Carroll previously won $5 million in a separate defamation and sexual assault trial against Trump.

The trial centered around Carroll's claim that Trump sexually assaulted her in a high-end department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump responded by calling Carroll a dishonest political operative. Carroll sued Trump for defamation since the statute of limitations barred her from suing over the assault.

During the trial, Carroll testified that Trump’s denials and attacks on her reputation caused reputational ruin and led to threats. She accused Trump of lying and said that his denials shattered her career. Carroll also testified that she expected Trump to deny the assault, but not to claim it was consensual.

Throughout the trial, Trump's lawyer, Alina Habba, repeatedly violated basic courtroom rules and proper legal procedure, leading to rebukes from Judge Lewis Kaplan. Despite the potential for malpractice liability, Trump is unlikely to sue Habba.

This trial sheds light on the importance of holding powerful individuals accountable for their actions and the impact their words can have on the lives of individuals who accuse them of misconduct.