Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s appeal of the E. Jean Carroll verdict, reaffirming the power of survivor-centered legislation and now he has been ordered by a federal judge to pay her the $5.8 million she won in a judgment against him.
This comes even as reports surfaced that the Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into her case. The president’s continuing campaign to seek retribution against those who’ve spoken out against him is unsurprising. But it sends a horrifying message to any survivor who seeks to hold an abuser accountable.
That’s why we, a New York State assemblymember who authored the Adult Survivors Act (ASA), and the CEO of Safe Horizon, the largest victim services agency in the country, are here to send our very own message to survivors: you are not alone. We believe you and will not stop fighting for justice.
In 2022, Carroll, an author who accused Trump of sexually abusing her in the mid-1990s, sued the then former president under New York State’s ASA. The ASA was passed into law in 2022, opening a one-year look back period for survivors who were previously time-barred from filing civil suits against their abuser. As a result, in 2023, a jury of his peers found Trump liable for sexual abuse.
We are well aware of how frightening it can be to hold abusers accountable. Carroll filed the very first lawsuit under the ASA in New York State. To pursue a case against such a powerful, well-connected and well-protected man takes incredible courage. So did the suits against Sean Combs and Harvey Weinstein, also filed under the ASA. But this wasn’t just an opportunity for public figures in the spotlight. More than 3,000 survivors came forward with allegations against doctors, hospital systems, corrections departments, and more, many for the first time.
This legislation was a monumental win for survivors of sexual abuse — who need time to process the trauma they’ve endured. It takes tremendous mental and emotional strength for a survivor to understand their experience, be ready to speak up about it, and navigate the court system — having to do so within a fixed time frame simply isn’t always possible. The very real threat of retaliation further complicates this already difficult process.
We know that news like this can have a chilling effect on the reporting of sexual assault. However, we will not let abusers, whether they work in the Oval Office, coach the soccer team or speak from the pulpit, evade the consequences of their deplorable actions.
The passage of the ASA, and relatedly, the Child Victims Act, which created a look back window in 2019 for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, was the start of a long overdue shift in rewriting New York’s legislation to protect survivors.
But in addition to legislation, it is critical that we vigorously speak out against abuse whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head.
We want survivors everywhere to know: if you are doubting your experience, fearful for the future, or just need support, there are people and organizations across the country that are willing and ready to stand with you, to hear your story, and to help you explore all your options. Some of the bravest people we know are survivors, and we will continue to channel their courage by speaking out, fighting tooth and nail for necessary reforms, and by giving you a safe place to land whenever you are ready.
Rosenthal represents the Upper West Side in the state Assembly. Roberts is CEO of Safe Horizon.