Appeals Court Denies Trump’s Attempt To Overturn E. Jean Carroll Ruling psss
Appeals Court Denies Trump’s Attempt To Overturn E. Jean Carroll Ruling
A federal appeals court on Friday turned away an attempt by President Donald Trump to have a lower court’s ruling in his $5 million sexual abuse case involving former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll overturned.
The decision, first reported on the X platform by Politico’s Kyle Cheney, stemmed from a divided Second Circuit Court of Appeals, in which all 11 judges were involved en banc. The ruling left intact a three-judge decision on Dec. 30 to enforce the jury award.
Carroll, now 81, alleged that Trump assaulted her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan around 1996, and later defamed her in an October 2022 Truth Social post by calling her accusation a hoax.
In May 2023, a jury found that Trump had sexually assaulted Carroll and defamed her by making false statements. However, the jury did not conclude that Trump had raped her, as she originally claimed.
In requesting reconsideration, Trump argued that the trial judge made a mistake by allowing jurors to view the 2005 Access Hollywood video, in which he boasted about his sexual behavior, along with what he described as a “pile-on” of prejudicial evidence involving allegations from two other women.
“Two of the Trump appointees, Judges Steven Menashi and Michael Park, on the bench dissent from the en banc decision, saying the judge shouldn’t have admitted ‘propensity’ evidence like the Access Hollywood tape,” Cheney reported on X.
One accuser, businesswoman Jessica Leeds, claimed Trump groped her on a plane in the late 1970s. The other, former People magazine writer Natasha Stoynoff, alleged he forcibly kissed her at his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2005. Trump has denied both allegations.
Trump, who turns 79 on Saturday, is also appealing an $83.3 million jury verdict issued in January 2024, which found he defamed Carroll and harmed her reputation in June 2019 when he first denied her allegation about the incident at Bergdorf Goodman.
In that appeal, Trump contends that the U.S. Supreme Court’s July decision granting him broad criminal immunity also shields him from civil liability in Carroll’s case.
In his 2019 and 2022 statements denying Carroll’s accusations, Trump claimed she was “not my type” and alleged she fabricated the story to promote her memoir.
Trump could also face a third lawsuit from Carroll over a post he made to his Truth Social account during the Memorial Day observance a year ago.
“Happy Memorial Day to All, including the Human Scum that is working so hard to destroy our Once Great Country, & to the Radical Left, Trump Hating Federal Judge in New York that presided over, get this, TWO separate trials, that awarded a woman, who I never met before (a quick handshake at a celebrity event, 25 years ago, doesn’t count!), 91 MILLION DOLLARS for ‘DEFAMATION,’” Trump wrote.
“She didn’t know when the so-called event took place – sometime in the 1990’s – never filed a police report, didn’t have to produce the ‘dress’ that she threatened me with (it showed negative!), & sung my praises in the first half of her CNN Interview with Alison Cooper, but changed her tune in the second half – Gee, I wonder why (UNDER APPEAL!)? The Rape charge was dropped by a jury! Or Arthur Engoron, the N.Y. State Wacko Judge who fined me almost 500 Million Dollars (UNDER APPEAL) for DOING NOTHING WRONG, used a Statute that has never been used before, gave me NO JURY, Mar-a-Lago at $18,000,000 – Now for Merchan!” he added.
Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, confirmed to Newsweek that her client was considering yet another lawsuit.
“We have said several times since the last jury verdict in January that all options were on the table. And that remains true today. All options are on the table,” Kaplan said in a statement at the time.
JUDICIAL TAKEDOWN: JUDGE FORCES T.R.U.M.P TO CHANGE KENNEDY CENTER NAME BACK TO ORIGINAL?!
Judge Steps In as Trump’s Kennedy Center Rename Triggers Legal Revolt and Artist Boycotts
A sweeping political and cultural backlash has erupted after Donald Trump moved to attach his name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, igniting a legal firestorm and prompting urgent questions about presidential authority, historical preservation, and the rule of law. Legal experts say the move may directly conflict with federal statutes governing the memorial.
The controversy intensified after the Kennedy Center’s board—reshaped during Trump’s tenure—approved a name alteration despite a longstanding law requiring explicit congressional authorization for any change. Within days, large metal lettering bearing Trump’s name appeared on the building, a move critics described as unprecedented and deliberately provocative given the Center’s status as a memorial to an assassinated president.
Legal scholars and former government officials quickly pushed back. Norm Eisen, now leading the Democracy Defenders Fund, argued that the action fits a broader pattern of defying both norms and statutes. He noted that courts have repeatedly intervened to halt similar actions, citing hundreds of lawsuits that successfully constrained executive overreach in recent years.
The fallout was immediate and visible. Protests erupted outside the Kennedy Center, while prominent artists began canceling scheduled performances. Representatives for musicians slated to appear at the venue confirmed withdrawals, citing concerns about politicization and respect for the institution’s historical mission. Cultural leaders warned that the controversy could permanently damage the Center’s reputation as a neutral space for artistic excellence.
Members of Congress also entered the fray. Lawmakers emphasized that only Congress—not the White House, and not a board vote—has the authority to rename the Kennedy Center. Several representatives called the move a “sacrilege” and an insult to President John F. Kennedy’s legacy, stressing that the original name was established by statute and signed into law after Kennedy’s assassination.
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Beyond the naming dispute, analysts framed the episode as part of a larger pattern. Critics pointed to simultaneous controversies involving judicial defiance, public health policy, and executive unilateralism, arguing that the Kennedy Center episode symbolizes a growing “imperial presidency” operating with few internal checks.
Political strategists believe the optics could carry electoral consequences. While the renaming has dominated Washington media, polls suggest voters are increasingly concerned about cost-of-living issues, raising questions about why symbolic battles are taking precedence. Opponents argue the issue provides Democrats with a powerful populist narrative: Americans do not have kings, and public institutions are not personal branding tools.
As legal challenges advance and pressure mounts, the future of the Kennedy Center’s name remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the attempted rebranding has transformed a cultural landmark into a national flashpoint—one that intertwines law, history, and power. Whether the lettering remains or is removed, the episode has already reignited a fundamental debate about who controls America’s public symbols, and how far presidential authority can truly extend.
Longtime House Democrat Passes Away
Longtime House Democrat Passes Away
St. Louis, MO — Missouri Democratic Rep. William Lacy “Bill” Clay Sr., the first Black congressman from the state and a towering figure in American civil rights and politics, died Thursday at the age of 94. Clay, who represented Missouri’s 1st Congressional District from 1969 until his retirement in 2001, leaves behind a legacy that spanned over three decades in the U.S. House and reshaped both St. Louis and the broader political landscape of the nation.
For many, Clay was more than a politician; he was a fighter, an architect of progress, and a bridge between the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and the halls of Congress where laws reflecting that struggle were debated and passed. His career was marked by perseverance, vision, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
William Lacy Clay Sr. was born on April 30, 1931, in St. Louis, Missouri, into a city defined as much by its contradictions as its possibilities. St. Louis, with its iconic Gateway Arch and reputation as the “Gateway to the West,” was also a city fractured by redlining, segregation, and entrenched racial inequality. It was within this environment that Clay came of age, sharpening both his sense of justice and his political instincts.
By the age of 28, in 1959, Clay made his first political breakthrough when he was elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, becoming one of the youngest members to serve. His rise came at a pivotal time. Across America, Black communities were mobilizing in the aftermath of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision and the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. Clay’s early involvement in sit-ins, protests, and labor organizing in St. Louis foreshadowed the lifelong commitment he would carry into Congress.
In a 1998 profile, Clay reflected on the challenges of his youth in segregated St. Louis. “St. Louis was no different from any of the cities in the South,” he said. “We had rigid segregation — not by law, but by custom.” That reality pushed Clay to activism and, ultimately, to political leadership.
Civil Rights Champion in St. Louis
Before reaching Washington, Clay made his mark as a local civil rights advocate. He joined sit-ins against discriminatory businesses, including national chains like White Castle and Howard Johnson, that enforced segregation by dividing Black and white customers into separate areas. Clay was arrested more than once in the pursuit of equality, but he viewed those moments as badges of honor, emblematic of the larger struggle.
As an alderman, Clay confronted entrenched systems of discrimination in housing, policing, and employment. St. Louis, like many Northern cities, practiced a form of segregation just as destructive as Jim Crow laws in the South — exclusionary zoning, discriminatory lending, and systematic underfunding of Black neighborhoods. Clay was among the first in the city’s political establishment to openly challenge those practices.
He also built alliances with organized labor, seeing the power of unions as intertwined with the fight for racial equality. That relationship would remain central throughout his congressional career, helping him push for workers’ rights, minimum wage increases, and improved labor standards.
From Local Leader to National Voice
In 1968, at the height of social upheaval following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Clay ran for Congress. His campaign tapped into the frustration and determination of St. Louis’ Black community, who were demanding representation equal to their population and influence. He won decisively, becoming Missouri’s first Black member of Congress in 1969.
Clay entered Washington during a time of tremendous change. The Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965) had become law, but the fight for economic justice and equal opportunity was far from over. In Congress, Clay positioned himself as both a legislator and an activist, never shying away from confrontation when necessary.
In 1971, Clay co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) alongside 12 other African American lawmakers. The group sought to amplify Black voices within the House, coordinate legislative strategy, and ensure that issues affecting African Americans received national attention. Today, the CBC boasts a record 62 members in the 119th Congress, a testament to Clay’s vision.
Legislative Achievements
Clay’s three decades in Congress were marked by significant legislative accomplishments. He was instrumental in shaping policies around labor rights, family protections, and social justice. Among the most notable:
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Clay played a key role in advancing the FMLA, which guaranteed millions of American workers the right to take unpaid leave for medical or family reasons without fear of losing their jobs. The landmark legislation, signed into law in 1993, remains a cornerstone of workers’ rights.
Raising the Minimum Wage: Clay was a consistent advocate for raising the federal minimum wage, arguing that economic justice was inseparable from civil rights. His efforts helped pave the way for periodic wage increases, lifting millions of workers out of poverty.
Urban Development in St. Louis: Clay used his influence to channel federal investments into St. Louis, negotiating with corporate leaders and trade unions to ensure that development projects benefited both the city’s skyline and its working-class residents. His work was instrumental in the city’s partial recovery following the exodus of white residents — often called “white flight” — after desegregation.
Civil Service Reform: Clay was also deeply engaged in oversight of federal employment policies, working to protect public employees and ensure fairness in hiring and promotions.
A Political Force — and a Demanding Ally
Clay was known for his political savvy and his ability to wield endorsements as powerful tools. Within Missouri’s Democratic Party, his support could make or break campaigns. Prominent Democrats often sought his blessing, aware that he expected loyalty in return.
“The Black community, almost overwhelmingly, looked at him as a fighter for them,” said his son, former Congressman Lacy Clay Jr., who succeeded him in representing Missouri’s 1st District until 2021.
That reputation as a fighter sometimes meant sharp elbows, but it also solidified his standing as one of the most influential Black lawmakers of his era.
Tributes Pour In
Following news of his passing, tributes poured in from across Missouri and the nation.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer praised Clay’s “courageous legacy of public service to St. Louis and the country,” highlighting his role in historic legislative battles on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised. “Millions have him to thank for the Family and Medical Leave Act and raising the minimum wage,” she said.
Congressman Wesley Bell (D-MO) described Clay as “a giant — not just for St. Louis, not just for Missouri, but for the entirety of our country.” Bell called him a mentor, trailblazer, and friend, adding, “I carry his example with me every time I walk onto the House Floor.”
The Congressional Black Caucus released a statement declaring: “Congressman Bill Clay leaves behind a legacy of dignity, courage, and transformative impact. His work laid the foundation for future generations of Black leadership in public service. May he rest in power and everlasting.”
Michael P. McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, said Clay “was a giant in the Congress and a civil rights pioneer who helped transform St. Louis and change the lives of countless people locally and nationally.”
Building the St. Louis Legacy
Clay’s impact on St. Louis is visible in the city’s development. During his tenure, he worked tirelessly to secure federal dollars for infrastructure, housing, and education projects. His ability to “barter with construction trades and corporate C-suites,” as one colleague put it, was central to reshaping St. Louis’ skyline.
The Gateway Arch, the city’s most recognizable landmark, came to symbolize not only westward expansion but also the resilience of a city navigating profound demographic and economic shifts. Clay ensured that Black workers, unions, and small businesses were not left behind in these projects.
Family and Personal Life
Clay married Carol Ann Johnson in 1953, and together they raised a family that became deeply enmeshed in public service. His son, Lacy Clay Jr., carried on his father’s legacy in Congress for two decades, from 2001 until 2021.
Though known for his political toughness, Clay was also remembered by friends and family as warm, witty, and deeply devoted to his community. He often returned to St. Louis to engage directly with residents, attending church services, neighborhood meetings, and civic events.
The Broader Impact
Bill Clay Sr.’s life and career cannot be measured solely by the legislation he authored or the elections he won. His influence extended into the very fabric of American democracy. By co-founding the Congressional Black Caucus, he institutionalized a space for Black lawmakers to speak collectively and strategically. By challenging segregation in St. Louis, he helped pave the way for future generations of Black leadership in the city and state.
For many in Missouri, Clay represented the possibility of a more inclusive democracy. His life demonstrated that progress was not inevitable but earned through persistence, negotiation, and at times confrontation.
Final Reflections
As the nation reflects on Clay’s passing, his story serves as both a reminder of the struggles of the past and a guide for the challenges of the future. In an America still grappling with racial inequality, Clay’s insistence on tying civil rights to economic rights remains strikingly relevant.
His legacy is etched not just in history books but in the daily lives of workers who can take family leave, of citizens who saw their neighborhoods revitalized, and of Black leaders who walk the halls of Congress today because he helped clear the path.
“Bill Clay Sr. was ahead of his time,” one colleague noted. “He didn’t just represent St. Louis — he represented possibility.”
As tributes continue to pour in, one thing is clear: Bill Clay Sr.’s 94 years left an indelible mark on St. Louis, on Missouri, and on the United States of America. His name will endure as a symbol of dignity, courage, and transformation.
