Former President Trump said Friday he plans to appeal after a jury ordered him to pay $83.3 million for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, who had alleged he sexually assaulted her decades ago.

ā€œAbsolutely ridiculous! I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party,ā€ Trump wrote on Truth Social. ā€œOur Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon.ā€

ā€œThey have taken away all First Amendment Rights,ā€ he added. ā€œTHIS IS NOT AMERICA!ā€

Fridayā€™s ruling by a jury in New York marked the second time Carroll has won damages from Trump at trial, with the new total adding to a $5 million verdict last year finding Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her over a separate comment.