The United States Supreme Court has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal for a second time in the case involving a $5-million US verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll. The jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the former magazine columnist. Trump’s lawyers argued that the trial was unfair, but the justices declined to reconsider their previous decision from June.
Additionally, Trump is facing another appeal regarding an $83.3-million US jury verdict for defaming Carroll during his first term as president. Trump’s legal team claims that presidential immunity protects him from Carroll’s claims, and they argue that lower courts erred in ruling that he had forfeited that defense.
The legal battle between Trump and Carroll began in 2019 when Carroll accused Trump of raping her in the 1990s. Trump has consistently denied these claims, calling them a “hoax” and a “con job.” The $5-million US verdict stemmed from Trump’s statements in 2022 where he dismissed Carroll’s claim on social media.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Carroll received nearly $5.63 million US from Trump, including the original civil verdict amount plus interest. Trump’s lawyers are pushing for a rehearing based on the issue of presidential immunity, which could impact both the $83.3-million US verdict and the 2023 case.
In a significant 2024 ruling, the Supreme Court established that former presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for actions taken during their time in office. The cases involving Carroll and Trump are civil lawsuits and not criminal proceedings.