US Supreme Court Upholds $5 Million Payout to E Jean Carroll From Donald Trump
The United States Supreme Court has refused to hear Donald Trump's appeal against a $5 million damages award to E Jean Carroll, confirming the former president's liability for sexual abuse and defamation. This ruling means the jury's May 2023 verdict, which found Trump responsible for sexually abusing Carroll in the mid-1990s and then defaming her, stands without further challenge.
Trump's legal team had sought to overturn the unanimous federal appeals court decision from December, which upheld the original jury's findings. This legal manoeuvre represents a conclusive setback for Trump, who has consistently denied Carroll's accusations, labelling them politically motivated. The court's terse rejection of the appeal offers no rationale, a standard practice in such instances.
The financial obligation of $5 million covers both sexual abuse and defamation, further complicating Trump's ongoing legal difficulties. Another defamation lawsuit filed by Carroll, seeking an additional $10 million, is still pending after Trump's subsequent disparaging remarks about her. This outcome underscores the persistent legal ramifications facing the former president, extending beyond his current presidential campaign.
