Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty of sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. A New York jury delivered the verdict today (May 9) and awarded the plaintiff $5 million.
According to The Associated Press, the jury reached its decision on the first day of its deliberations. Jurors didn’t accept Carroll’s claims that she was raped by the onetime “Apprentice” host, but still found him liable for sexual abuse and for defaming her after she went public with her allegations in 2019.
Trump, who vehemently denied the claims over the years, didn’t appear in the civil trial and wasn’t present when the verdict was read. Carroll, meanwhile, tearfully nodded while it was read aloud. The result was validation for Carroll, who is one of more than a dozen women who accused Trump of sexual assault or harassment.