SCOTUS won’t accept President Trump’s $5 million judgment in E. Jean Carroll case
The Supreme Court has refused to consider a $5 million judgment from a 2023 jury verdict that held President Trump responsible for the sexual assault of E. Jean Carroll.
New York author E. Jean Carroll will finally receive compensation more than three years after a federal civil jury found President Donald Trump responsible for sexual abuse and defamation, even though Trump continues to deny the allegations.
Court records show more than $5.6 million, including interest, was paid on July 14 from funds Trump had to turn over to be detained while he continues his appeal. The move comes after weeks of controversy over whether Trump has ended his fight against whistleblower payments.
On June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear Mr. Trump’s appeal, and Mr. Carroll asked the Manhattan trial court to order Mr. Trump to pay the $5 million judgment the jury awarded her, plus interest, alleging improper delaying tactics.
Trump resisted the request, arguing that his fight is not over yet as he is asking the Supreme Court to review the case.
After Ms. Carroll received a hefty $83.3 million judgment against Mr. Trump in a separate case that is currently on appeal, she publicly discussed donating the money to provoke Mr. Trump’s disgust. Mr. Trump’s lawyers noted that statement in court filings, saying Mr. Trump’s funds would “likely not be recoverable” if the Supreme Court changed its mind.
But a federal judge ruled on July 8 that it was time for Trump to pay.
Judge Louis A. Kaplan, an appointee of President Bill Clinton, said in a July 8 ruling that President Trump “has stalled this case for years.” “It’s time for him to ‘play fair’ and pay the judgment.”
Mr. Trump challenged this ruling and appealed.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said in a statement that she was “pleased” to confirm that Carroll received the payment awarded by the jury.
The White House referred USA TODAY to Trump’s personal attorney, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Carroll alleges in her lawsuit that Trump assaulted her in a department store fitting room in the 1990s and damaged her reputation in 2022 by attacking her claims as “the work of a con artist.” Trump vehemently denies her accusations and is challenging a Manhattan civil jury’s unanimous verdict in 2023.
In a separate case, a civil jury in Manhattan awarded Mr. Trump $83.3 million in 2024 based on its conclusion that Mr. Trump defamed Mr. Carroll when he first denied her claims in 2019. Trump’s appeal of the matter is still pending.
This story has been updated with additional information.
