On Thursday, 45th President Donald Trump officially appealed the verdict against him in the civil case brought by E. Jean Carroll.

Earlier in the week, Trump was found liable for battery and defamation by the jury in the civil case brought by Carroll. Trump was not, however, found liable for rape. In response to the decision, Trump said that the case was yet another witch hunt against him.

The jury that came to this decision was made up of six men and three women. They convened for about three hours before coming to their decision. It has been reported that E. Jean Carroll has been awarded $5 million in damages.

In response to the decision, Trump wrote on Truth Social, "I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN IS. THIS VERDICT IS A DISGRACE - A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!"

Earlier in the day, Trump explained that he was not allowed to speak or defend himself. However, he was invited to testify publicly during the trial.

"Waiting for a jury decision on a False Accusation where I, despite being a current political candidate and leading all others in both parties, am not allowed to speak or defend myself," he wrote, adding, "even as hard nosed reporters scream questions about this case at me."
 
"In the meantime, the other side has a book falsely accusing me of Rape, & is working with the press," Trump wrote. "I will therefore not speak until after the trial, but will appeal the Unconstitutional silencing of me, as a candidate, no matter the outcome!"

The case against Trump revolved around an alleged rape that occurred in a dressing room in the lingerie department on the sixth floor of Bergdorf Goodman on a Thursday evening in the spring of 1996, as reported by Politico. Carroll apparently came forward with the allegation only in 2019, however, the prosecution has brought forward two witnesses that said that Carroll told them about the alleged rape shortly after it occurred.

President Trump has repeatedly denied the allegation saying during his deposition, "It didn't happen. And by the way, if it did happen, it would have been reported within minutes. Talking about going to a major floor, probably I assumed the most important floor, a major floor in a major department store. That's a very busy store, by the way, checkout counters and everything else. And I would be in there– I mean, it's the most ridiculous. It's the most ridiculous disgusting story is just made up."

The leading Republican candidate also made light of the situation on Wednesday evening during a CNN town hall where he repeatedly pointed out the various ways in which evidence, that would speak to Carroll's character, was not allowed to be entered into the case.