NEW YORK — A recent ruling from a federal appeals court has reaffirmed a jury’s finding that Donald Trump sexually assaulted columnist E. Jean Carroll in a department store dressing room during the mid-1990s.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Manhattan jury’s decision, which awarded Carroll $5 million in damages for defamation and sexual abuse.

During the trial held in 2023, Carroll, who has had a long-standing career as a magazine writer, shared her account of an encounter with Trump in the spring of 1996. What began as a seemingly innocent meeting quickly turned into a violent incident when they moved into the dressing area.

Trump was absent during the trial and has continuously denied any wrongdoing related to the incident. Nevertheless, he provided brief testimony in a subsequent defamation case earlier this year, which resulted in a staggering $83.3 million verdict against him. This second trial was initiated by comments Trump made in 2019 after Carroll publicly accused him in her memoir.

A three-judge panel from the appeals court dismissed claims from Trump’s legal team that Judge Lewis A. Kaplan had made rulings that undermined the trial’s fairness. This included allowing testimony from two other women who alleged they were sexually assaulted by Trump.

The judge also authorized the jury to view the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape, in which Trump boasted about being able to grab women without their consent due to his celebrity status.

The 2nd Circuit remarked, “We conclude that Mr. Trump has not demonstrated that the district court made any erroneous decisions regarding the claims raised. Additionally, he has failed to show that any alleged errors significantly impacted his rights, which would warrant a new trial.”

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In September, both Carroll, 81, and Trump, 78, were present for the oral arguments at the 2nd Circuit.

A spokesperson for Trump, Steven Cheung, released a statement claiming that Trump was elected with a strong mandate from voters who are now calling for an end to what he labeled as the political manipulation of the justice system, referring to the case as a “Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax” that he intends to continue appealing.

Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, expressed her satisfaction with the ruling, stating, “Both E. Jean Carroll and I are pleased with today’s decision. We appreciate the Second Circuit’s comprehensive evaluation of the arguments presented.”

In May 2023, the original jury concluded that Trump had sexually abused Carroll and defamed her through comments he made in October 2022, resulting in a $5 million award to her.

In January, a second jury awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million in damages for Trump’s remarks made while he was in office, which were deemed defamatory. This jury was instructed to accept the previous jury’s finding that Trump had sexually assaulted Carroll. An appeal of that verdict is still pending.

Throughout both trials, Carroll testified that Trump’s public statements had a severe impact on her life as a columnist for Elle magazine, leading to threats against her and a fear of leaving her home in upstate New York.

During the second trial, Trump testified for less than three minutes and was not permitted to challenge the findings of the May 2023 jury. However, he remained noticeably engaged in the courtroom throughout the two-week trial, often heard muttering about the proceedings.

In the September appeal arguments, Trump’s attorney D. John Sauer argued that witness testimonies, including accounts of Carroll speaking about the incident with others shortly after it occurred, were inappropriate due to perceived biases against Trump.

Sauer also contended that testimonies from two women who alleged similar sexual misconduct by Trump in the 1970s and 2005 should have been excluded, as Trump has denied those allegations as well.

The 2nd Circuit noted, “In each of the three incidents, Mr. Trump initiated a seemingly casual conversation with a woman he barely knew, only to abruptly escalate to unwanted kissing and touching in semi-public situations. These actions are similar enough to establish a pattern.”

Furthermore, the court stated that the “Access Hollywood” tape served as direct corroboration for the women’s testimonies regarding the pattern of behavior they encountered.

The Associated Press typically does not disclose the identities of individuals who allege sexual assault unless they have come forward publicly, as E. Jean Carroll has done.