The United States Supreme Court has rejected a second appeal by President Donald Trump in a case involving a $5 million verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll. The decision stems from a jury finding Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the former magazine columnist. Trump’s lawyers argued that the trial was unfair, but the court upheld the previous ruling from June.
In addition to this case, the justices are also considering another appeal by Trump related to an $83.3 million jury verdict for defaming Carroll during his presidency. Trump’s legal team claims that presidential immunity protects him from Carroll’s accusations and challenges the lower courts’ decisions on this matter.
The legal battle between Trump and Carroll dates back to 2019 when Carroll alleged in her memoir that Trump had raped her in the 1990s. Trump has consistently denied these claims, calling them a “hoax” and a “con job.” While jurors found Trump guilty of sexually abusing and defaming Carroll in a separate case, they did not conclude that he had raped her.
Following the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear Trump’s appeal, Carroll received nearly $5.63 million from Trump, including the original $5 million civil verdict plus interest. Trump’s lawyers have highlighted the issue of presidential immunity in both cases, emphasizing its potential impact on the legal outcomes.
A significant ruling in 2024 established that former presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for actions taken during their presidency, but the Carroll cases are civil lawsuits and fall under a different legal scope.
