Financial Resolution
In a significant development for both parties, a federal judge has ordered the release of over $5 million plus interest to writer E. Jean Carroll, following a 2023 civil jury verdict that found Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan's decision comes after the Supreme Court declined to hear Trump's appeal of the case, leading to the authorization of the payment of nearly $5.8 million to Carroll, which includes the original $5 million verdict plus interest accrued.
Legal Stalemate
Trump's lawyers have been persistent in their efforts to halt the payment, with the most recent attempt being a last-minute bid to pause the $5 million judgment owed to Carroll. Despite the Supreme Court's refusal to consider the case, Trump appealed against Kaplan’s order to the federal appeal court in Manhattan, less than an hour after it was issued. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit quickly rejected Trump's request for an emergency stay of the order.
Impact on Carroll
Carroll, represented by her lawyer Roberta Kaplan, has been seeking a faster-than-normal schedule to receive the damages awarded to her by the jury, plus the interest that has compiled since the case was decided in 2023. Carroll's legal team has called Trump's latest Supreme Court effort "gamesmanship," accusing him of trying "to buy time so he can try to concoct some new basis to put off paying" Carroll.
Trump's Response
Trump has vehemently denied Carroll's allegations since they were first raised in 2019, arguing that he has never known Carroll and that she is "not my type." He has described her story as a "hoax" and a "con." These denials are central to Carroll's defamation allegations. Trump has also asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision, arguing that constitutional claims in a related $83 million defamation case will overlap with this matter.
Conclusion
The payment to Carroll represents a substantial financial impact on the case and marks a definitive step towards closure, despite Trump's continued legal challenges. The funds, which have been held in escrow since 2023, are now set to be disbursed, concluding a chapter in a case that has spanned years and involved multiple appeals.
