The damage Trump did to E. Jean Carroll's reputation would cost $12M to repair: expert

The harm former President Donald Trump did to E. Jean Carroll’s reputation would cost $12 million to repair, an expert reportedly testified at the writer’s defamation trial Thursday.

“Damage to her reputation was severe,” Northwestern University professor Ashlee Humphreys told the jurors. “The costs to repair it were considerable.”

Humphreys used data to back her claim that a public relations campaign to restore Carroll’s reputation would cost $12 million, ABC News reports.

The professor said Trump’s defamatory statements were read online about 25 million times and seen on television about 63 million times, ABC News reports.

Between 85 and 104 million people heard Trump’s defamatory statements and between 20 and 25 percent believed them, Humphreys reportedly testified.

ALSO READ: 'Chaos': Fired Highland Park rec director details trauma of July 4 mass shooting

But belief is beside the point, Humphreys argued, because all those who heard Trump deny Carroll’s sex abuse claim — held up in a previous civil court trial — came to associate the writer with accusations that she was a liar and a Democratic operative.

Carroll has twice sued Trump for defamation. He has been found liable both times — the ongoing trial is to determine damages for the second case.

The first trial ended with Carroll being awarded $5 million.

Trump denies wrongdoing.