A federal judge has ordered that E. Jean Carroll receive $5.8 million in damages awarded after a jury found that former President Donald Trump sexually abused and defamed her. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in Manhattan came Wednesday, following the Supreme Court’s decision last week to decline hearing Trump’s appeal of the 2023 civil verdict. The amount includes the original $5 million award plus accrued interest.
The case stems from Carroll’s allegations that Trump assaulted her in 1996 at a Manhattan department store, an encounter she publicly revealed in 2019. Trump has consistently denied the claims, asserting he never knew Carroll and accusing her of using the case to profit politically and financially. The jury found Trump liable for sexual assault and defamation, and the damages were deposited in a court-controlled escrow account pending the conclusion of appeals.
Following Judge Kaplan’s order to release the funds, Trump’s legal team filed a notice of appeal and sought to block the payment, arguing that additional review was warranted. They contended that disbursing the money prematurely could cause irreparable harm, particularly since Carroll has indicated plans to donate the sum. Trump’s attorneys also requested that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit intervene to halt the release.
Carroll’s lawyers had requested immediate payment, asserting that the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case signaled the end of Trump’s legal avenues regarding this award. They emphasized that Carroll had cooperated with delays to this point and argued there was no justification for further postponement. Carroll, now 82 and a former advice columnist and author, did not comment publicly following the ruling.
This judgment is one of two significant rulings involving Carroll and Trump. In a related case that went to trial in early 2024, a jury awarded Carroll more than $83 million for additional defamation claims stemming from statements Trump made after the initial verdict. Trump is also appealing that verdict, which has already been upheld by an appeals court but has not been reviewed by the Supreme Court.
Throughout the litigation, Trump has maintained that Carroll fabricated the accusations and has criticized the legal process. Carroll testified during her trials that Trump’s repeated public attacks caused her harassment, threats, and serious concern for her safety over several years. The verdicts represent the only instances in multiple legal cases since Trump’s presidencies in which he has been held financially accountable through a trial.
The dispute highlights ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding Trump’s conduct before and after his time in office, with broader implications for defamation and sexual assault claims involving public figures. The immediate release of the funds marks a significant moment in the protracted legal battle between Carroll and Trump, although further appeals could continue.