The Washington Post recently characterized the $5 million sexual assault verdict against former President Donald Trump as "justice" in a "small, imperfect dose." The verdict came in the wake of Trump being found liable for sexually assaulting writer E. Jean Carroll in a New York City department store dressing room in 1996.

The Washington Post's Ruth Marcus reported on the potential consequences of the verdict for the beleaguered former president. Marcus argued that the $5 million verdict might be "only the beginning" of the legal system "holding Trump responsible for his actions."

Marcus wrote, "The verdict [...] will not change minds." She added, "Still, it is an ineradicable part of the record, perhaps only the beginning of a legal system holding Trump responsible for his actions, however belatedly."

Marcus continued, "Will this verdict do anything to stop him? Probably not." She pointed out that it is not a criminal conviction, and that Trump's staunch supporters would likely remain unfazed. "The rest of us have long known who he is and what he is capable of."

Marcus concluded that "justice is dispensed in small, imperfect doses," describing the verdict as a "single teaspoonful" that "will not cure the disease" but serves as a start.

As previously reported, a New York jury found Trump liable for sexually assaulting Carroll in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996, awarding her $2 million in damages. The jury also found Trump liable for defaming Carroll by publicly denying the allegations and accusing the now-79-year-old writer of fabricating the story, resulting in an additional $3 million award for defamation.

In response to the verdict, Trump claimed on Truth Social that he has "no idea" who Carroll is, calling her accusation "false and totally fabricated." He expressed hope that "justice will be served on appeal!"

Carroll reportedly had a message for Trump's legal team after being awarded the multi-million-dollar verdict. She allegedly whispered to them, "He did it, and you know it."