**Donald Trump Ordered to Pay E. Jean Carroll $5.8 Million After Supreme Court Declines Appeal**
A U.S. District Judge has mandated that former President Donald Trump pay $5.8 million to E. Jean Carroll, a magazine writer, following a civil verdict in which a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming her. The ruling was issued by Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan on Wednesday, authorizing the disbursement of funds that had been held in escrow during Trump's appeal process.
The amount awarded to Carroll includes the original $5 million verdict determined by a jury in 2023, along with accrued interest. The funds had been on hold while Trump sought to appeal the jury's decision, but the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his case on June 29, 2023. Notably, none of the nine justices, including three appointed by Trump, expressed dissent regarding the decision.
In his ruling, Judge Kaplan emphasized the prolonged nature of the case, stating, “Defendant has been stalling this case for years. It is time for him to ‘do equity’ and pay the judgment.” Carroll initially filed her lawsuit against Trump in November 2019, and the judge's order marks a significant step in the legal proceedings that have spanned over six years.
Trump's legal team requested that the federal appeals court in Manhattan place an immediate hold on the disbursement while they continued their appeal. However, the court denied this motion on the same day as Judge Kaplan's order. Following the ruling, a spokesperson for Trump's legal team issued a statement asserting that "the American People stand with President Trump" and called for an end to what they described as "Witch Hunts" against him, including the case brought by Carroll.
Carroll's attorneys criticized Trump's appeal efforts, arguing that they are merely attempts to prolong the legal process and introduce new defenses when previous ones have failed. They stated, “Carroll has waited more than three years for a jury’s verdict to be paid. She should not have to wait any longer.”
Trump's lawyers expressed concerns that allowing Carroll to collect her damages before the Supreme Court could potentially review the case would undermine public confidence in the judicial system. They also argued that if Carroll were to donate the funds, it would cause irreparable harm to Trump, as recovering the money afterward would be unlikely.
Judge Kaplan countered this argument by asserting that disbursing the funds would not cause irreparable harm to Trump, noting that he could pursue legal action to recover the money if the Supreme Court were to accept his appeal and overturn the verdict.
Carroll, who is now 82 years old, has indicated her intention to place the awarded funds in an interest-bearing account to support her retirement. The Supreme Court typically refrains from taking up appeals after initially declining to do so, making it uncertain whether Trump's renewed appeal will be successful.
The case stems from Carroll's accusation that Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump has consistently denied the allegations, labeling them as a hoax and asserting that Carroll fabricated the story to promote her memoir. While a jury awarded Carroll $5 million based on a Trump denial made in 2022, they did not find him liable for rape. Additionally, a separate jury in January 2024 ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages related to an earlier denial made during his presidency in 2019.
Trump has claimed that he deserves presidential immunity concerning the statements made during his time in office. In September 2023, the federal appeals court in Manhattan upheld the $83.3 million verdict, and Trump's legal team has indicated plans to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court. They believe that a successful appeal could potentially affect the basis for the earlier $5 million verdict.
As the legal battles continue, the outcome of Trump's appeals remains to be seen, while Carroll prepares to receive the funds awarded to her by the court.