# Civil Trial: Trump v E. Jean Carroll (Carroll wins, awarded $5 million, plus 83.3 million) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [April 17, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820 "2023-04-17T21:59:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 71
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1401 "2025-01-01T15:39:05Z")
My theory on why Trump thinks he can throw her in jail is that because he won a lawsuit against a news organization regarding the technical, specific, at-the-time definition of the word “rape”, this means (to him) that he has been falsely accused of it by E. Jean Carroll as well. We already know he’s a big fan of claiming TOTAL EXONERATION any time _anything_ goes his way in a legal proceeding. He is the very definition of “give a man an inch…” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1402 "2025-01-01T15:46:17Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > My theory on why Trump thinks he can throw her in jail is that because he won a lawsuit against a news organization regarding the technical, specific, at-the-time definition of the word “rape” He didn’t even win the lawsuit; they settled out of court. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1403 "2025-01-01T15:55:20Z")
In Trump’s mind that is total exoneration because ABC only would have settled if they knew they were going to lose. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1404 "2025-01-01T16:09:58Z")
And I really don’t understand why they settled. It was a slam dunk. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1405 "2025-01-01T16:28:57Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > For what exactly? This is what terrifies me. Trump doesn’t care “for what”–He intends to throw her in jail anyway… Along with a lot other people who he hates (Jack Smith, Judge Merchan, all 12 jurors, etc) . The question is whether he’ll find a way to do it. Because , if Trump does find a way, the Supreme Court will allow it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1406 "2025-01-01T17:28:59Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > The question is whether he’ll find a way to do it. > Because , if Trump does find a way, the Supreme Court will allow The question that keeps rolling around in my head is “Then what do we do?” The line in the sand keeps moving. But always towards decent people. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1407 "2025-01-01T17:33:06Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > And I really don’t understand why they settled. It was a slam dunk. Even if it’s a slam-dunk, they still have to defend the lawsuit, which costs money. It was probably cheaper to settle than it would have been to mount a successful defence. This is what Trump does: He sues people, counting upon them to settle because it’s too expensive to defend. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1408 "2025-01-01T17:40:12Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Even if it’s a slam-dunk, they still have to defend the lawsuit, which costs money. It was probably cheaper to settle than it would have been to mount a successful defence. This is what Trump does: He sues people, counting upon them to settle because it’s too expensive to defend. I suspect they settled because they were afraid of taking on Donald Trump as the President of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1409 "2025-01-01T18:35:37Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I suspect they settled because they were afraid of taking on Donald Trump as the President of the United States. It’s not ‘they settled’ It’s ‘It is settled’ the rule of law does not matter. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1410 "2025-01-01T21:21:32Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > He is the very definition of “give a man an inch… This trope is getting well past its bedtime, but what the hell, I’m doing it anyway: God didn’t give the man as much as even an inch. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1411 "2025-01-02T02:11:42Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > It was probably cheaper to settle than it would have been to mount a successful defence. This is what Trump does: He sues people, counting upon them to settle because it’s too expensive to defend. It’s a variation of [SLAPP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_lawsuit_against_public_participation). ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1412 "2025-01-02T03:53:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > She now legally can get the money. It will be difficult to collect. Actually, baring further appeals, it won’t be, at least not for her. Do you remember a few months ago, Trump scrambling to find someone to underwrite this debt and eventually getting the money from an Insurer named [Chubb](https://www.reuters.com/legal/donald-trump-appeals-e-jean-carrolls-833-million-defamation-verdict-2024-03-08/)? All that money is sitting is escrow waiting for Carroll to withdraw. Now that means that Chubb will have to collect the money from Trump, which may or may not be difficult depending on how the bond was secured, but that’s not Carroll’s problem. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > And I really don’t understand why they settled. It was a slam dunk. I think it had less to do with the strength of the case and more to do with wanting to mollify a presumptive president who openly promised vengeance against media companies that displease him. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1413 "2025-01-02T04:24:29Z")
But settling won’t change anything. He’ll still come after them. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1414 "2025-01-02T04:25:02Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Actually, baring further appeals, it won’t be Will there be further appeals? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1415 "2025-01-02T05:12:45Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Will there be further appeals? He can petition the Supreme Court, requesting review, and probably will. They will likely decline, but you never know. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1416 "2025-01-02T20:36:25Z")
As long as that _is_ Trump’s final straw-grab. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1417 "2025-01-02T22:45:58Z")
I have yet to see a final. The piper never comes collecting. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1418 "2025-01-02T22:50:09Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > As long as that _is_ Trump’s final straw-grab. We’ll, he can also add a request for _en banc_ review to the entire Second Circuit. That delays things a bit as well, and also is almost always denied. Then a Cert. Peitition to the US Spremes. If they deny, it’s over. The judgment has to be paid, with interest. The bond guarantees payment. (although there isn’t a pot of money sitting in an account somewhere.) Trump has to pay, and if he doesn’t the insurance company that posted the bond pays and goes after his assets. For $5 million, Trump can probably raise the money or take it from the RNC. The bigger one might be more of a problem for him. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1419 "2025-01-02T22:56:58Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Trump has to pay, and if he doesn’t the insurance company that posted the bond pays **and goes after his assets**. I would be skeptical about the part I bolded. Trump has the capacity to do great harm to anyone who crosses him (or will when this goes down). Siccing the IRS on people is the least of it. He may even enjoy telling the insurance company to go fish; it will be a very public and, to him, satisfying exercise of his power. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820/1420 "2025-01-02T23:03:27Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > He may even enjoy telling the insurance company to go fish; it will be a very public and, to him, satisfying exercise of his power. He will and as far as I’m concerned that’s on the insurance company. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820.md?page=70) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-trial-trump-v-e-jean-carroll-carroll-wins-awarded-5-million-plus-83-3-million/982820.md?page=72)