A Manhattan jury may not have used the word “rape” in their official verdict — but the judge overseeing the case has no doubt about what happened. Despite Donald Trump’s team celebrating a supposed legal “win,” the court isn’t buying it.
Back in May, a jury ruled that Donald Trump sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll, awarding her $5 million. Trump’s lawyers latched onto one detail — the jury didn’t find him liable for “rape” under New York’s narrow legal definition. That became their excuse to downplay what actually happened.
But federal judge Lewis Kaplan just shredded that defense. In a recent opinion issued on Wednesday, he clarified what the evidence really showed — and he didn’t mince words.
“The finding that Ms. Carroll failed to prove that she was ‘raped’ within the meaning of the New York Penal Law does not mean that she failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word,” Kaplan wrote.
It’s a damning statement — and one that cuts through Trump’s spin like a knife. The jury believed Carroll. They believed she was assaulted. And the only reason they didn’t call it “rape” is because New York’s legal definition is absurdly narrow, focused entirely on penile penetration and ignoring almost every other form of sexual violence.
Carroll described in chilling detail how Trump attacked her inside a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s — pushing her against the wall, forcefully inserting his fingers, and, she believes, his penis. Her account was clear, visceral, and horrifying. And the jury believed her.
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Trump’s attorneys still tried to claw back the $2 million awarded for sexual assault damages, arguing that because the legal term “rape” wasn’t used, the amount should be reduced. Kaplan wasn’t having it. In fact, he doubled down on what the trial revealed.
The jury had to determine whether Donald Trump was liable for battery against E. Jean Carroll. As Judge Lewis Kaplan explained, the definitions of the acts that could constitute battery — including rape, sexual abuse, and forcible touching — were drawn directly from New York State’s penal code. Based on these legal definitions, the jury had to determine which of these acts Trump committed.
“Mr. Trump’s argument… ignores the bulk of the evidence at trial, misinterprets the jury’s verdict, and mistakenly focuses on the New York Penal Law definition of ‘rape’ to the exclusion of the meaning of that word as it often is used in everyday life,” Kaplan wrote.
This ruling isn’t just about language — it’s about accountability. Trump, who continues to dodge consequences, may have finally met a judge who isn’t afraid to say the quiet part out loud. The legal system might work slowly, but at least in this case, it’s speaking clearly.
Carroll’s legal battle isn’t over either. She’s preparing for a second trial, tied to the original 2019 lawsuit — the one Trump managed to delay for years by hiding behind presidential immunity. That defense has now been dropped by the Justice Department, opening the door for another showdown.
Her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, was blunt: “Now that the court has denied Trump’s motion for a new trial or to decrease the amount of the verdict, E. Jean Carroll looks forward to receiving the $5 million… She also looks forward to continuing to hold Trump accountable.”
Accountability — that’s what this case has always been about. Not just for Carroll, but for every woman Trump has tried to silence, mock, or erase. He may still play the victim card on Truth Social, but in court, his excuses are starting to fall apart.
What remains is a record — legal, public, and damning — that says what many have always believed. Trump didn’t just defame E. Jean Carroll. He raped her. And no amount of legal jargon will ever erase that truth.
