The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined for the second time to reconsider President Donald Trump’s appeal of a $5.6 million judgment awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll for sexual abuse and defamation. The court’s unsigned order provided no explanation for its decision, which follows an earlier rejection of Trump’s initial appeal in June.
The $5.6 million payment, including post-judgment interest, was disbursed to Carroll on July 9, 2024, after a federal judge ruled she could collect the funds held in escrow during the appeals process. Trump’s legal team had requested a rehearing, a procedural step the Supreme Court almost never grants.
Core Developments in the Case
1. Supreme Court’s Second Rejection
The high court’s latest order, issued on August 17, 2024, marks the second time it has refused to review Trump’s appeal of the $5 million jury verdict from Carroll’s 2023 trial. The court’s decision came in the form of an unsigned order, with no justices dissenting and no explanation provided.
2. Payment Disbursed After Escrow Ruling
A federal judge in New York ruled on July 8, 2024, that Carroll could collect the $5.8 million Trump had deposited into court, including interest. The payment was finalized the following day, according to court records.
Background and Legal Context
The Carroll I and Carroll II Cases
The $5.6 million award stems from a 2023 trial in which a federal jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation after Carroll testified that Trump assaulted her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before reaching a unanimous verdict. Trump did not attend the trial and called no witnesses.
This case, often referred to as Carroll II, is separate from a second defamation verdict (Carroll I), in which Carroll was awarded $83.3 million for Trump’s repeated public denials of her allegations, including claims that she was lying and that her accusations were a “hoax.” Trump is currently appealing the $83.3 million award in that case.
Trump’s Legal Arguments
Trump’s legal team has argued that he is entitled to presidential immunity for his statements about Carroll, particularly those made during his presidency. They contend that the appeals court failed to address this immunity claim in its ruling. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on Trump’s appeal in the Carroll I case, which involves his statements as president.
Key Dates and Procedural Steps
- May 2023: Federal jury finds Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million.
- December 2023: Second Circuit Court of Appeals upholds the $5 million verdict and the $83.3 million defamation award in separate rulings.
- June 29, 2024: Supreme Court rejects Trump’s initial appeal of the $5 million verdict.
- July 8, 2024: Federal judge rules Carroll can collect the $5.8 million held in escrow.
- July 9, 2024: Payment is disbursed to Carroll.
- August 17, 2024: Supreme Court denies Trump’s petition for rehearing in the $5 million case.
Trump’s Public Statements and Carroll’s Response
Trump has denied all allegations, calling Carroll’s claims a “hoax” and questioning her credibility. In depositions, he referred to her as a “nut job” and “whack job.” Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, has stated that the defamation awards were intended to “make him stop” making false statements about her client.
Carroll, a longtime advice columnist and former TV host, first publicly accused Trump in 2019 in an excerpt from her memoir published by New York Magazine. She testified that Trump forcefully penetrated her in the Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s.
Ongoing Legal Battles
Trump remains embroiled in multiple legal challenges related to Carroll’s allegations. In addition to the $83.3 million defamation award, he faces ongoing appeals in both the Carroll I and Carroll II cases. Legal experts note that the Supreme Court’s refusal to rehear the $5 million case does not preclude it from taking up the $83.3 million appeal later this year.
The Supreme Court’s decision to deny rehearing in the $5 million case effectively concludes this phase of the litigation, though Trump’s broader legal strategy—including his immunity arguments—remains unresolved.