The United States Supreme Court rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal of a $5 million verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexually abusing and defaming her. The court declined to reconsider their previous decision from June regarding the 2023 jury verdict related to allegations that Trump raped Carroll in the 1990s. Trump’s legal team argued that the trial was unfair.
The court’s order, which came without explanation, is a rare occurrence as the Supreme Court rarely grants requests for reconsideration. Additionally, the justices are also considering Trump’s appeal of an $83.3 million jury verdict for defaming Carroll during his presidency when he denied her accusations.
In a separate case, Trump’s lawyers argue that presidential immunity protects him from Carroll’s claims and that lower courts erred in ruling against this defense. The ongoing legal battle between Trump and Carroll began in 2019 when Carroll alleged that Trump raped her in a department store dressing room.
Trump has consistently denied Carroll’s claims, calling them a “hoax” and a “con job” in social media posts. While jurors found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, they did not conclude that he raped her as she had claimed.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in June, Carroll received nearly $5.63 million from Trump, which included the original $5 million civil verdict plus interest. Trump’s lawyers have raised concerns about the impact of the issue of presidential immunity on both the $83.3 million verdict and the 2023 jury decision.
In a significant 2024 ruling, the Supreme Court established that former presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken during their presidency, but the Carroll cases are civil lawsuits.