US Supreme Court Denies Trump's Appeal in E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case
The US Supreme Court has rejected Donald Trump's appeal of the $5 million jury verdict finding him liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll.
A Significant Legal Setback
The US Supreme Court has dealt a major blow to Donald Trump’s legal efforts, officially rejecting his request to review a 2023 jury verdict that found him liable for the sexual abuse and subsequent defamation of former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. The justices issued their decision on Monday without providing reasoning or noting any dissents, effectively cementing the $5 million civil judgment against the former president.
The Path to the Supreme Court
This ruling follows a series of unsuccessful legal maneuvers by the Trump defense team. In 2024, a three-judge panel at the second US circuit court of appeals in Manhattan upheld the initial jury verdict. Trump’s lawyers had argued that the trial was fundamentally unfair, citing the inclusion of evidence regarding past allegations of sexual misconduct. Despite these assertions, the appellate court and now the highest court in the land have allowed the verdict to stand.
Reaction and Accountability
Following the announcement, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to label the outcome a product of a "fake case." Conversely, Roberta Kaplan, attorney for E. Jean Carroll, hailed the ruling as a final victory for justice. "Today’s supreme court decision affirms once and for all the jury’s unanimous verdict that President Donald J. Trump sexually assaulted and defamed E. Jean Carroll," Kaplan stated. She added that the ruling marks the conclusion of Trump’s efforts to avoid accountability for his actions.
Broader Legal Implications
The origins of this case date back to 2019, when Carroll first published allegations in her memoir regarding a sexual assault she claimed took place in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room during the 1990s. While this $5 million judgment is now finalized, the legal battles between the two continue. A separate defamation trial in 2024 resulted in an $83.3 million judgment against Trump for comments made in 2019. His legal team is currently appealing that decision, with intentions to escalate that matter to the Supreme Court as well. As it stands, Trump remains under a court order to secure the $83.3 million award, with a recent ruling requiring him to increase his bond to cover accruing interest while appeals proceed.
