A federal appeals court has affirmed a significant ruling against President Donald Trump, upholding a $83.3 million jury verdict in a defamation lawsuit filed by magazine writer E. Jean Carroll. The decision marks a key development in the legal battle between Carroll and Trump, stemming from her allegations of sexual assault against him.

Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a dressing room at a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s. In response to her allegations, Trump dismissed them as lies and publicly stated he had never met Carroll, leading to her defamation lawsuit against him.

The lawsuit proceeded to trial, resulting in a jury awarding Carroll $83.3 million in damages in a New York state court. Trump’s legal team appealed the decision, arguing that the statements made by Trump were within the scope of his official duties as president, thus shielded from legal action.

However, the appeals court upheld the jury’s verdict, affirming that Trump’s comments were personal in nature and not made in an official capacity. The court’s decision underscores the legal accountability of public figures for personal statements unrelated to their official duties, setting a precedent in cases of alleged defamation involving high-profile individuals.

In response to the ruling, a spokesperson for Carroll stated, “We are gratified by the court’s decision to uphold the jury verdict, reaffirming that truth and justice matter.” Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team may explore further legal options following this decision, potentially appealing to higher courts in a bid to challenge the verdict and the associated financial penalty.