Furthermore, in 1982, in Nixon v. Fitzgerald , the Supreme Court recognized a Presidential immunity from civil liability for official acts as President. I see no reason to lessen this in the President's case. But it is also difficult to envision a sitting President sitting for trial while he is in office. It remains a most complicated question, for which there is simply no easy answer. The jury awarded the Goldman family 8.5 million dollars in compensatory damages.
Punitive damages are pending.
Many in the African-American community regard this a an example of white injustice. But there is no evidence of any prejudicial case against him. The case will remain a festering wound in the American psyche, despite the issue of guilt or innocence. In many ways this case is far beyond the issue of guilt or innocence. It is far more symbolic now.