US Supreme Court Rejects Trump Appeal in E. Jean Carroll Sexual Assault Case

The US Supreme Court declined to hear former President Donald Trump's appeal against a $5 million civil judgment awarded to journalist and author E. Jean Carroll. This ruling upholds a previous verdict that found Trump sexually assaulted Carroll in the mid-1990s and defamed her by denying her allegations and calling them fabricated. The court issued its decision without explanation, a common practice when refusing to review cases, meaning Trump must pay Carroll the awarded damages.

Reports indicate Trump already transferred $5.5 million to a court-controlled account in 2023, so Carroll is expected to receive the payment soon. The appeal had been delayed for months as the Supreme Court repeatedly scheduled and then postponed internal discussions without providing reasons. Carroll first accused Trump of sexual assault in 2019, describing an incident in a Manhattan department store dressing room around 1996. Trump denied the claims both during and after his presidency.

The lawsuit was filed in 2022 after New York enacted a law allowing victims of past sexual assaults to file civil suits. The case also addressed Trump's 2022 social media posts calling Carroll's allegations a "hoax" and "fraud." A jury found Trump civilly liable for sexual assault and defamation but did not find he raped Carroll. Trump's lawyers argued the trial was unfair because the judge allowed testimony from two other women alleging past assaults by Trump, which they claimed were irrelevant and unproven.

Trump's defense also contested the admission of the 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape, in which he boasted about kissing and groping women without consent. A federal appeals court rejected these arguments, affirming the $5 million judgment and ruling the evidence showed a consistent pattern of behavior matching Carroll's claims. Trump previously lost attempts to have the case reheard by a full appeals court panel and then appealed to the Supreme Court.

Separately, Carroll won another defamation suit against Trump related to his 2019 statements, resulting in an $83.3 million judgment. Including interest, Trump owes Carroll over $100 million across both cases. This ruling has added complexity after it was revealed that the Department of Justice under Trump opened a criminal investigation into Carroll for allegedly providing false testimony in the civil proceedings.