The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a final attempt by President Donald Trump to challenge a $5.6 million payment ordered following a jury verdict that found he sexually abused and defamed former magazine writer E. Jean Carroll. This ruling marks the latest defeat for the president in a long-standing legal battle that has spanned multiple years and court levels.
Although the Supreme Court had previously denied an appeal on this matter in June, Trump’s legal team petitioned the justices to reconsider that decision. The court’s refusal to take up the case effectively exhausts his options for appeal regarding this specific judgment. Under a previous lower court mandate, the funds had already been transferred to Carroll, whose legal representatives noted in a filing that the award would be held in an interest-bearing account pending the outcome of this rehearing request.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that the unanimous jury verdict is now final and beyond further judicial challenge. Conversely, a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team characterized the case as a politically motivated effort, asserting that the president would continue to contest what they termed as “Liberal Lawfare” while maintaining his innocence regarding the allegations.
The legal conflict originated from two separate lawsuits. The first, filed in 2019, focused on defamation, while the second, initiated in 2022 after New York state passed legislation allowing civil claims for past sexual abuse, resulted in the $5 million jury award. During the 2022 trial, testimony included allegations of a mid-1990s assault in a department store and claims that Trump defamed Carroll by dismissing her account as a fabrication intended to boost book sales.
Throughout the proceedings, Trump’s defense argued that U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan committed procedural errors, specifically by allowing testimony from two other women who alleged similar past misconduct. Defense attorneys also contested the inclusion of the 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape, in which Trump was recorded using graphic language regarding his interactions with women. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had previously affirmed the jury’s verdict, concluding that the trial judge acted within his discretion.
Following the appellate court’s decision, Trump attempted to have the case reviewed by the full bench of the 2nd Circuit in June 2025 before escalating the matter to the Supreme Court. The high court’s consideration of the appeal was marked by several months of delays and repeated rescheduling, though the justices provided no formal explanation for the timeline.
While this decision concludes the $5.6 million case, a separate legal matter involving an $83 million judgment against the president remains pending before the Supreme Court. The justices rarely grant requests for rehearing, and this latest action reinforces the finality of the initial verdict in the 2022 case. The report also notes that and then she sued him again in 2022 for defamation and battery after New York enacted a law allowing victims of sexual abuse to file civil claims for past incidents, carroll sued Trump in 2019 for defamation. The report also notes that “The American People stand with President Trump as they demand an immediate end to all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded travesty of the Carroll Hoaxes,” a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team said in a st. The report also notes that “President Trump will keep winning against Liberal Lawfare, as he continues to focus on his mission to Make America Great Again.”. The report also notes that “You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. The report also notes that they let you do it, and when you’re a star.
