In brief
After the Supreme Court declined to review a civil judgment against him, former First Lady E Jean Carroll has urged the court to order former President Donald Trump to pay the $5 million awarded for sexual assault and defamation. The request follows years of litigation and repeated appeals by Trump, who defends his innocence and disputes the jury’s findings. With the judgment now carrying interest, Carroll’s lawyers claim it is time for Trump to comply with the court’s decision. The case underscores the broader controversy over the president’s alleged conduct and his legal strategy to avoid payment.
Former columnist E Jean Carroll has asked a judge to order former president Donald Trump to pay the $5 million judgment awarded by a jury over sexual assault and defamation claims.
The request follows the Supreme Court’s recent decision to decline to review the case, leaving the lower court’s ruling in place.
In May 2023 a New York jury found Trump liable for assaulting Carroll in the 1990s and for denying the incident, and it awarded her damages. The amount, which now totals roughly $5.8 million after interest, has been repeatedly postponed by Trump.
Carroll’s lawyers highlighted that Trump had signed a formal agreement to delay payment, but repeated appeals and court filings have undermined that cooperation. "It is time for him to pay," the brief asserts.
Trump, who denies all allegations, continues to challenge the lawsuit, labeling it a political attack. He posted a statement on his social media platform rejecting the case in a message that the court’s dismissal of his appeal has been "fake."
The judge’s order would close a four‑year legal saga that spanned district court, appeals, and the Supreme Court. Carroll’s team has filed the brief on Tuesday, highlighting all of Trump’s attempts to stall payment.
A separate case in 2024 found Trump liable for defaming Carroll, awarding her £84 million. That appeal was also denied by a federal panel.
The case illustrates the intersection of political power and legal accountability, with potential ramifications across future judicial outcomes.
