The Supreme Court declined to hear President Donald Trump’s appeal of the $5 million civil judgment awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll, leaving in place the jury verdict that found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation.
The decision ends Trump’s effort to overturn the 2023 verdict in the case stemming from Carroll’s allegations that Trump sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s inside a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York City.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Trump sharply criticized Carroll and the legal proceedings in a post on Truth Social.
“Surprisingly, the Supreme Court declined to ‘review’ a Fake Case brought against me by a woman I never met,” Trump wrote, again denying Carroll’s allegations.
He also described the lawsuit as “lawfare” and argued that New York lawmakers changed state law specifically to target him.
“The President vowed to keep fighting what he calls a case of ‘lawfare’ with all of my power and strength,” Trump said in his statement.
Carroll filed the lawsuit in 2022 under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily allowed victims of alleged sexual abuse to pursue otherwise expired civil claims.
She alleged Trump sexually assaulted her in the spring of 1996 and later defamed her by repeatedly denying the allegations and accusing her of fabricating the story.
After a trial in federal court, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, though not liable for rape under New York law. Jurors awarded Carroll $5 million in damages.
According to court records, Trump deposited approximately $5.5 million into a court-controlled account following the verdict while his appeals proceeded. With the Supreme Court declining to hear the case, Carroll is expected to receive the funds.
The Supreme Court did not provide an explanation for declining the appeal, which is common practice when the justices deny review.
Trump’s attorneys had argued that the trial judge improperly allowed jurors to hear testimony from two other women who accused Trump of sexual misconduct and to view the 2005 “Access Hollywood” recording in which Trump made comments about women.
Federal appeals courts previously rejected those arguments, concluding that the trial judge had not committed reversible error.
The president also argued that requiring him to continue defending the lawsuit interfered with his presidential responsibilities.
The Supreme Court’s action applies only to the $5 million judgment, per the Daily Mail.
Trump is separately appealing another civil verdict in favor of Carroll.
In that case, a jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million after finding Trump repeatedly defamed her through statements made while he was president.
With interest, that judgment has reportedly grown beyond $100 million.
Trump continues to deny all allegations made by Carroll and has vowed to continue challenging the remaining judgment through the courts.
The White House did not immediately comment on the Supreme Court’s decision. Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team is expected to continue pursuing appellate options in the separate defamation case involving the larger damages award.
