Former US President Donald Trump told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that he will appeal the ruling in the E. Jean Carroll civil case.
A federal jury in New York City ruled on Tuesday that Trump was not liable for rape but was liable for sexual abuse and defamation and was ordered to pay $5 million.
Carroll”s suit had accused Trump of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.
A nine-member jury, composed of three women and six men, deliberated for three hours before announcing their verdict on Tuesday.
The jurors found Carroll”s 2019 lawsuit credible that alleged Trump sexually abused her in a dressing room at the department store, likely in 1996. They also sided with the writer on her allegation that Trump defamed her in a Truth Social post in October 12, 2022 that called her allegations a “hoax.”
In an exclusive interview just after the jury delivered the verdict, Trump told Fox News Digital that he has “absolutely no idea who this woman is.”
“This verdict is a disgrace,” he said, adding, “It is a continuation of the greatest political witch hunt in history.”
Trump told Fox News Digital that he “will appeal.”
“We’ll appeal. We got treated very badly by the Clinton-appointed judge,” Trump said. “And [Carroll] is a Clinton person, too.”
He added, “I have no idea who this woman is.”
Trump’s presidential campaign released a statement following the verdict, saying the Democrats’ “witch hunt” had reached a “new low,” calling it an “abuse of our great Constitution.”
“In jurisdictions wholly controlled by the Democratic Party our nation”s justice system is now compromised by extremist left-wing politics. We have allowed false and totally made-up claims from troubled individuals to interfere with our elections, doing great damage,” the statement said.
“Make no mistake, this entire bogus case is a political endeavor targeting President Trump because he is now an overwhelming front-runner to be once again elected President of the United States.”