Trump’s Appeal Rejected in E. Jean Carroll Verdict

The United States Supreme Court has once again rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal regarding a $5 million verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll. This decision comes after a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the former magazine columnist. Trump’s request for the court to reconsider their previous denial of his appeal in June was turned down, relating to a 2023 jury verdict stemming from allegations of rape in the 1990s. The court’s order, which offered no explanation, is a rare instance of granting reconsideration requests. Separately, Trump is also appealing an $83.3 million jury verdict for defaming Carroll during his first term as president, claiming that presidential immunity shields him from her claims. The ongoing legal battle between Trump and Carroll began in 2019 when Carroll accused Trump of raping her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump has consistently denied these claims, asserting that Carroll lied about the accusations. The $5 million verdict pertained to Trump’s statements in 2022 where he labeled Carroll’s claim as a “hoax” and a “con job” on social media. Although the jury found Trump guilty of sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, they did not conclude that he had raped her as she alleged. Following the Supreme Court’s rejection of Trump’s appeal, Carroll received nearly $5.63 million from Trump, representing the original $5 million civil verdict plus interest. Trump’s lawyers argue that the issue of presidential immunity in the $83.3 million verdict case could impact the 2023 verdict, as the Supreme Court had ruled in a 2024 decision that former presidents have full immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken within their core constitutional powers.