Supreme Court upholds $5 million verdict against Trump in Carroll case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected Donald Trump's appeal of a civil verdict finding him liable for sexual abuse and defamation of writer E. Jean Carroll, ordering him to pay $5 million plus interest. Source: AP via diariolibree The decision, issued without explanation and no noted dissents, likely ends Trump's legal challenges to the 2023 jury verdict. Source: lavanguardia

The case

In May 2023, a federal jury in Manhattan found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman in 1996 and defaming her when she came forward in 2019. Source: clarin The jury awarded $2 million for abuse and $3 million for defamation. Source: listindiario Trump has consistently denied the allegations and called the case a "witch hunt." Source: infobae His lawyers argued that the trial judge improperly allowed testimony from two other accusers and the "Access Hollywood" tape. Source: lavanguardia

Reactions

Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, stated: "The decision today confirms once and for all the unanimous jury verdict that President Donald J. Trump sexually assaulted and defamed E. Jean Carroll." Source: infobae Trump responded on Truth Social, vowing to "continue fighting this case of weaponization of justice." Source: listindiario He also faces a separate $83.3 million defamation verdict currently on appeal. Source: clarin

Additional context

Notably, while the Supreme Court ruled against Trump in this civil matter, it also decided against him on separate issues regarding the Federal Reserve and mail-in voting. Source: clarin Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has reportedly opened a criminal investigation into whether Carroll perjured herself regarding funding from billionaire Reid Hoffman. Source: listindiario