The United States Supreme Court has turned down U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal regarding a $5 million US judgment in favor of E. Jean Carroll, a former magazine columnist. The verdict held Trump accountable for sexual abuse and defamation. Trump’s lawyers argued that the trial was unjust, but the justices declined to reconsider their earlier decision from June.
In addition to this case, the court is also considering Trump’s appeal of an $83.3 million US jury verdict for defaming Carroll during his presidency. Trump’s legal team claims that presidential immunity protects him from Carroll’s accusations and disputes the lower courts’ ruling on this matter.
The ongoing legal battle between Trump and Carroll dates back to 2019 when Carroll alleged in her memoir that Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1990s. Trump has consistently denied these claims and labeled them as fabrications. The $5 million US judgment stemmed from Trump’s comments in 2022 dismissing Carroll’s allegations as a “hoax” and a “con job.”
Following the Supreme Court’s rejection of Trump’s appeal, Carroll received nearly $5.63 million US from him, including the original $5 million US civil verdict plus interest. Trump’s lawyers have emphasized the significance of the issue of presidential immunity, especially in light of a potential review of the $83.3 million US verdict. The Supreme Court previously established that former presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken during their time in office, a ruling that does not apply to civil lawsuits like those involving Carroll.