New York jury finds Donald Trump sexually abused E Jean Carroll in civil suit

A federal jury in New York City reached a decision Tuesday in the civil trial of advice columnist E. Jean Carroll vs. former President Donald Trump. 

The jury decided that Trump was not liable for rape but was liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The jury awarded Carroll a total of $5 million in damages.

The six men and three women on the jury began deliberating Tuesday morning on the ninth day of the civil trial, which took place in Manhattan federal court.

Trump chose not to attend the civil trial and was absent when the verdict was read.

Carroll, 79, alleged that Trump raped her at the Bergdorf Goodman department store across the street from Trump Tower in Manhattan sometime in 1996. According to Carroll, the two had a chance run-in at the store, where Trump was shopping for a gift for "a girl." She said he asked for her advice, and the two shopped together before he pushed her into a dressing room and assaulted her.