The United States Supreme Court has once again rejected President Donald Trump’s appeal regarding a $5 million US verdict 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 justices declined to reconsider their previous decision in June.
In a separate case, Trump is also appealing an $83.3 million US jury verdict for defaming Carroll during his first term as president. His lawyers claim that presidential immunity protects him from Carroll’s claims and challenge the lower courts’ ruling that he had forfeited that defense.
The legal battle between Trump and Carroll began when she accused him of raping her in the 1990s. Trump has consistently denied the allegations, calling them a “hoax” and a “con job.” The $5 million US verdict stemmed from Trump’s statements in 2022 on social media, where he dismissed Carroll’s claim.
After the Supreme Court’s denial of Trump’s appeal, Carroll received nearly $5.63 million US from Trump, including the original $5 million US civil verdict plus interest. Trump’s lawyers are pushing for a rehearing, citing the potential impact of the issue of presidential immunity on both the $83.3 million US verdict and the 2023 ruling. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that former presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within their constitutional powers, but the Carroll cases are civil lawsuits.