The United States Supreme Court has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal for the second time, upholding a $5-million verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll, a former magazine columnist. The jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, dating back to the 1990s in a Manhattan department store. Trump’s legal team argued that the trial was unfair, but the Supreme Court justices declined to reconsider their earlier decision from June.
In addition to this case, the court is also reviewing another appeal from Trump regarding an $83.3-million defamation verdict in favor of Carroll. Trump’s lawyers claim that presidential immunity should protect him from Carroll’s allegations and challenge lower courts’ rulings on this matter.
The legal battle between Trump and Carroll began in 2019 when Carroll accused Trump of raping her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. Trump vehemently denied these allegations and insisted that Carroll was lying. The recent $5-million verdict stemmed from Trump’s statements in 2022, where he dismissed Carroll’s claims as a “hoax” and a “con job” on social media. The jury concluded that Trump had sexually abused and defamed Carroll, but did not find evidence to support the claim of rape.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in June, Carroll received nearly $5.63 million from Trump, including the original $5-million verdict plus interest. Trump’s lawyers have raised concerns about the impact of the presidential immunity issue on both the $83.3-million verdict and the 2023 case. The Supreme Court had previously ruled that former presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for actions within their constitutional powers during their time in office, but the Carroll cases are civil lawsuits.