Supreme Court dismisses Trump’s appeal regarding million payment to E. Jean Carroll.
The Supreme Court has declined a request from former President Donald Trump to reconsider a million civil judgment against him, which was issued following a jury’s finding in 2023 that he had sexually abused and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll. The court’s recent announcement, delivered on a Monday, did not provide specific reasons for their decision, a customary practice for such routine orders. Notably, there were no recorded dissents among the justices.
Shortly after the court initially dismissed his appeal in July 2023, Trump paid Carroll the awarded amount. He subsequently requested a reconsideration of this ruling, a motion which the Supreme Court also denied earlier this week. Separately, Trump seeks to overturn a higher judgment of .3 million, awarded by a jury in 2024, concerning defamation related to Carroll’s accusations of a decades-old rape.
The Justices are currently observing their summer recess and are not anticipated to address this latter case until at least late September. The request for reconsideration was always seen as a long shot, as the Supreme Court typically refrains from revisiting decisions unless extraordinary circumstances are presented. Nevertheless, this latest refusal represents another setback for Trump as he faces mounting legal challenges surrounding Carroll’s allegations and the associated financial penalties.
In a response to the Supreme Court’s decisions, Trump’s legal team asserted that the American public supports the former president, calling for an end to what they describe as politically motivated legal actions against him. They maintain Trump will continue to prevail against what they term “liberal lawfare,” aligning this narrative with his ongoing campaign to regain the presidency.
Conversely, Carroll’s attorney expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case, emphasizing that the unanimous jury verdict confirming Trump’s sexual assault and defamation of Carroll is now final and beyond contestation.
The million verdict originated from a trial conducted in May 2023, during which a federal jury in New York determined that Trump was liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the 1990s at Bergdorf Goodman department store. The jury concluded that Carroll had sufficiently established her claims, further noting that Trump had defamed her by publicly dismissing her allegations on social media, labeling them as a “con job” and a “hoax.” Throughout these proceedings, Trump has consistently denied the allegations made against him.
Following the jury’s verdict, Trump appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging the admission of certain evidence he claimed undermined his right to a fair trial. In December 2024, a three-judge panel confirmed the jury’s verdict, ruling that Trump did not demonstrate that his rights had been infringed by the trial process.
This ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities surrounding high-profile cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct and defamation, particularly when intertwined with political figures. The implications of these rulings will continue to resonate as Trump navigates his legal landscape and prepares for future political contests.
Media News Source
