Former President Donald Trump has petitioned the Supreme Court to examine a civil jury’s ruling from 2023, which deemed him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump aims to annul a $5 million judgment following unsuccessful attempts to secure a retrial over the past two years.
Details of the Case
In his appeal, Trump labelled Carroll’s allegations as “implausible” and contends that the testimonies presented were far-fetched. This legal battle has persisted, with Trump promising to seek redress through the nation’s highest court. His last significant legal setback came in December 2024, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit dismissed his appeal. In June, the court further declined to conduct an en banc review, essentially closing the door on his bid for a retrial.
Jury Findings
The jury adjudicated that there was sufficient evidence to support Carroll’s claims regarding a mid-1990s incident in a New York City department store. Although the jury did not uphold Carroll’s accusation of rape, Judge Lewis Kaplan later indicated that the jury’s decision implied a finding of digital rape based on the evidence presented. Trump argues that Judge Kaplan made several errors in evidentiary decisions that impacted the jury’s perception of him.
Trump’s Response and Legal Defense
- Trump described Carroll’s claims as “facially implausible” and politically charged.
- A spokesman for Trump’s legal team connected Carroll’s lawsuit to broader political attacks against him.
- The spokesperson stated, “The American People stand with President Trump as they demand an immediate end to all of the Witch Hunts.”
Trump has consistently denied the allegations since they were first made in 2019, which coincided with the publication of an excerpt from Carroll’s book in New York Magazine. In addition to the current appeal, Trump is also contesting a separate jury verdict from January 2024 that found him liable for making defamatory statements about Carroll. Altogether, these verdicts have resulted in over $88 million in awards to Carroll.
The legal team representing Carroll has stated that funding for their efforts came from an outside nonprofit associated with a Democratic donor. However, they clarified that Carroll had no involvement in securing these funds. They maintain that such financial support holds no relevance to the sexual abuse and defamation claims against Trump.
As the Supreme Court prepares to take up this pivotal case, the outcome may have profound implications for both Trump and Carroll.
