The United States Supreme Court has once again rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal regarding a $5 million US verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll, a former magazine columnist who accused Trump of sexual abuse and defamation. This decision comes after a jury found Trump liable for the allegations dating back to the 1990s in a Manhattan department store dressing room.
Trump’s plea for reconsideration of the court’s previous ruling in June, which upheld the 2023 jury verdict, was denied without explanation. The court rarely entertains requests for reconsideration, and Trump’s legal team argued that the trial was unjust.
Additionally, the Supreme Court is currently reviewing Trump’s appeal of an $83.3 million US verdict for defaming Carroll during his presidency. Trump has consistently denied the allegations and claimed that Carroll fabricated the accusations.
The ongoing legal battle between Trump and Carroll dates back to 2019 when Carroll accused Trump of raping her in a New York department store. Trump has vehemently denied these claims, calling them a “hoax” and a “con job” on social media in 2022. Although the jury did not find Trump guilty of rape, they did determine that he had sexually abused and defamed Carroll.
Following the Supreme Court’s rejection of Trump’s appeal in June, Carroll received nearly $5.63 million US from Trump, including the initial $5 million US verdict plus interest. Trump’s lawyers have raised concerns about presidential immunity in the case, highlighting the potential impact on both the 2023 and 2024 verdicts. The Supreme Court’s landmark 2024 ruling granted former presidents immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken during their presidency, though the Carroll cases are civil lawsuits.