Nikki Haley Says She Trusts E. Jean Carroll Jury: ‘They Made Their Decision Based On The Evidence’

Republican Presidential candidate Nikki Haley told Meet The Press that she trusts the decision of a jury in deep blue New York City to award E. Jean Carroll $83 million in damages as part of her defamation suit against former President Donald Trump.

The civil trial has long generated controversy as Caroll has failed to provide any evidence of her claim that she was sexually assaulted by former President Trump in a department store more than 30 years ago. While Trump has never been charged with or found guilty of a crime relating to the matter, a judge ruled that he can be sued for the alleged act.

The jury was not allowed to hear numerous pieces of evidence cited by the Trump campaign, including an interview with Anderson Cooper in which Carroll claimed sexual assault is “sexy.” Her story almost identically matches an episode of Law And Order and once posted a hypothetical about having sex with Trump for money.

When asked about the trial on Sunday’s edition of Meet The Press, Trump rival Nikki Haley said she trusted the jury’s decision. “I absolutely trust the jury and I think that they made their decision based on the evidence,” she said.

“I just don’t think that should take him off the ballot. I think the American people will take him off the ballot. I think that’s the best way to go forward is not let him play the victim, let him play the loser. I think the American people will take him off the ballot. I think that’s the best way to go forward is not let him play the victim, let him play the loser. That’s what we want him to do at the end of the day,” Haley continued.

Billionaire LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman played a key role in funding Carroll’s case and subsequent defamation case against Trump. Hoffman had been a major financier of the Haley campaign as well, though he opted to pull his support after she failed to secure a victory in New Hampshire.