The United States Supreme Court has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal for a second time, upholding a $5 million US judgment in favor of E. Jean Carroll. The jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the former magazine columnist. Trump’s lawyers argued that the trial was unfair, but the court’s decision was final with no explanation provided.
Apart from this case, the Supreme Court is also considering Trump’s appeal regarding a separate $83.3 million US jury verdict for defaming Carroll during his presidency when he denied her claims. Trump’s legal team claims that presidential immunity protects him from Carroll’s allegations and that lower courts erred in ruling against this defense.
The legal battle between Trump and Carroll began when she accused him of raping her in the 1990s, which he vehemently denied. The $5 million US verdict stemmed from Trump’s statements in 2022 calling Carroll’s claim a “hoax” and a “con job” on social media. While the jury found Trump guilty of sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, they did not conclude that he had raped her as she alleged.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in June, Carroll received nearly $5.63 million US from Trump, including the original civil verdict amount plus interest. Trump’s lawyers have raised concerns about how the issue of presidential immunity in the $83.3 million US verdict could impact the earlier ruling. The Supreme Court previously established that former presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for actions within their constitutional powers, but the Carroll cases are civil lawsuits.
