After an appeals court upheld veteran journalist E. Jean Carroll’s $5 million judgment against Donald Trump on Monday, former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann warned that Trump himself may face increasing legal jeopardy. The ruling came just a day after the president-elect hinted at possible retribution against Carroll.
During an appearance on MSNBC’s Deadline: White House, Weissmann, a former FBI counsel, described the ruling as a significant moment in the ongoing legal battles involving Trump. “This is an interesting day,” Weissmann told host Nicolle Wallace. “I think clearly what the former president and president-elect are doing is another shot across to send a message to those people who might sue him for wrongs.”
Weissmann highlighted the court’s decision as a reaffirmation of Carroll’s victory in her case against Trump, in which two juries awarded her a combined sum of over $85 million. “E. Jean Carroll obviously was the victim here, as found by not one but two juries that awarded her a sum of over 85 million dollars, and they found that she was sexually assaulted,” Weissmann said.
He went on to explain why Trump’s appeal failed, underscoring the solid legal foundation of the case. “The claims against her by Donald Trump are unsupported by any facts and, in fact, are contrary to the jury verdicts,” Weissmann explained. “And just legally, by the way, Donald Trump cannot re-litigate that. He had an opportunity not once, but twice, he could have testified and didn’t.”
Weissmann noted that while Trump’s rhetoric may aim to intimidate potential litigants, the legal system has so far held firm. “This is a lot of fear-mongering, but it is effective fear-mongering, as we have seen in a variety of different contexts. It’s something to keep an eye on in terms of the courts,” he added.
Describing Monday’s decision as “routine,” Weissmann noted that the appellate court took extra care to ensure the ruling would stand up under further scrutiny. “The court issued an unusually long opinion, probably to make sure this case was bulletproof in terms of an appeal,” Weissmann said.
“It remains to be seen just whether the judicial system is going to hold up. But today is a good sign.” As Trump continues his legal battles, Weissmann emphasized the importance of the judiciary in maintaining accountability, especially over the next four years.