The United States Supreme Court rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal for the second time, upholding a $5 million verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll. The jury had found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the former magazine columnist. Trump’s lawyers argued that the trial was unfair, but the court’s order provided no explanation for the decision.
Additionally, the justices are currently considering Trump’s appeal of another $83.3 million jury verdict for defaming Carroll during his presidency. Trump’s legal team claims that presidential immunity protects him from Carroll’s accusations and contests the lower courts’ rulings on this matter.
The legal battle between Trump and Carroll began when she accused him of raping her in the 1990s. Trump denied the allegations and branded them as lies, leading to a series of court cases. In one instance, Trump was held accountable for his statements on social media in 2022, where he dismissed Carroll’s claims as a “hoax” and a “con job.”
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Carroll received nearly $5.63 million from Trump, which included the original $5 million civil verdict plus interest. Trump’s lawyers highlighted the significance of the issue of presidential immunity in the case, emphasizing its potential impact on both the 2023 and 2024 jury verdicts.
In a significant ruling in 2024, the Supreme Court established that former presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for actions taken during their time in office. It’s important to note that the Carroll cases are civil lawsuits, not criminal proceedings.