On Monday, President Donald Trump petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a 2023 jury ruling that found him liable for alleged sexual abuse against E. Jean Carroll. A Manhattan jury ordered Trump to pay $5 million in damages after determining he had abused Carroll in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.
Trump’s legal team argued in the appeal that the verdict lacked credible evidence, citing the absence of eyewitnesses, video footage, or police reports. The petition stated, “There were no eyewitnesses, no video evidence, and no police report or investigation,” adding that Carroll delayed her allegations for over 20 years before filing them in 2019. Trump’s lawyers claimed she targeted him politically after he became president, seeking to harm his reputation and profit financially.
A federal appeals court upheld the $5 million ruling last year. The Supreme Court has not yet formally accepted the petition, though the case could set a precedent for future litigation involving Carroll. A separate jury later awarded Carroll $83.3 million in defamation damages, which was affirmed by an appellate panel. Trump’s team has also requested the full Supreme Court to review whether presidential immunity can be waived in civil cases.
Carroll has pursued two lawsuits against Trump, winning a total of $88.3 million in damages. The current appeal focuses on the initial $5 million verdict, with the second ruling pending further judicial review. Critics argue the trial was a politically motivated “witch hunt” and that the lack of evidence renders the judgment unjust.
The Supreme Court’s decision on whether to take up the case remains uncertain, but the legal battle over Carroll’s allegations shows no signs of ending soon.