The ongoing legal battles involving former President Donald Trump and writer E. Jean Carroll have taken another turn. On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to revisit a previous decision that upheld a jury’s verdict awarding $5 million to Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual abuse in the mid-1990s and subsequent defamation.
Trump’s legal team had requested the Supreme Court to reconsider its refusal to entertain his appeal. However, the justices dismissed this petition alongside several others. While such requests are atypical, they are not without precedent. Shortly after the court’s decision in June, Trump complied with the judgment and made the payment.
In addition, Trump and the Department of Justice have petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify another verdict concerning Carroll, which amounts to $83 million. This appeal is based on the argument that Trump, as a sitting president in 2019, was immune from lawsuits related to comments made during his tenure. The court has not yet made a decision on this matter.
E. Jean Carroll, a seasoned advice columnist and former television host, recounted during a 2023 trial how a seemingly friendly encounter with Trump at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store near Trump Tower in Manhattan, escalated into a violent incident. The jury concluded that Trump defamed Carroll with his 2022 denial of her allegations.
Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Carroll’s accusations.
The Associated Press follows a policy of not identifying individuals claiming sexual assault unless they have publicly disclosed their identities, as Carroll has done.
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