Court Battle Reaches Another Turning Point
Writer E. Jean Carroll has asked a federal judge to require Donald Trump to pay the $5 million awarded to her in a civil case after the US Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal. The total amount has now increased to nearly $5.8 million because of accumulated interest.
Carroll’s legal team says Trump has delayed payment for years by filing multiple appeals. They argue that every legal challenge has failed and that the time has come for him to comply with the court’s decision.
Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Trump’s Appeal
On Monday, the US Supreme Court declined Trump’s request to review the case. That decision leaves the earlier court rulings in place and removes another legal path for challenging the verdict.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Carroll’s lawyers immediately asked the court to enforce the payment. They stated that they had previously agreed to Trump’s requests to delay the process. However, they now believe there is no reason for any further postponement.
According to the legal filing, the case has already moved through every level of the federal court system. Carroll’s attorneys argue that the legal dispute should finally come to an end.
Background of the Civil Case
The lawsuit began after Carroll accused Trump of sexually assaulting her inside a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan during the mid 1990s. Trump strongly denied the allegation.
In May 2023, a New York jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and later defaming her by calling her claims false in social media posts. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages.
Although the jury found Trump liable in the civil case, the verdict did not involve criminal charges.
Trump Continues to Reject the Verdict
After the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal, Trump again denied Carroll’s allegations on Truth Social. He described the lawsuit as false and claimed the legal process had been unfair.
Trump also criticized Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the civil trial. He argued that the judge allowed evidence that influenced the jury’s opinion against him. However, a federal appeals court previously ruled that the trial had been conducted properly and found no legal errors that justified a new trial.
Another Defamation Appeal Is Still Pending
Trump is also challenging a separate civil judgment involving Carroll. In that case, another jury ordered him to pay nearly $84 million for additional defamatory statements made after Carroll first went public with her allegations.
A federal appeals panel rejected Trump’s effort to overturn that decision. However, he continues to pursue further legal options in that separate case.
What Happens Next?
Carroll’s latest court filing seeks to end the lengthy legal battle by collecting the money awarded by the jury. If the judge approves the request, Trump could be required to pay nearly $5.8 million, which includes the original damages and accrued interest.
The separate $84 million defamation judgment remains under appeal and will continue through the courts.
