President Donald Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a $5 million civil judgment that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, marking his latest legal effort to challenge the verdict. On Monday, Trump filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking to reverse a federal appeals court decision that upheld a jury’s finding he sexually abused and defamed Carroll. The move represents Trump’s final avenue to contest the damages award, which stemmed from allegations that he assaulted Carroll in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the 1990s and later publicly dismissed her claims as a “hoax.”
The case originated from Carroll’s lawsuit, where she accused Trump of sexual assault and defamation. In May 2023, a Manhattan federal court jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages. The jury, however, rejected her claim of rape as defined under New York law, focusing instead on the abuse and subsequent public statements. This verdict was upheld by a federal appeals court last year, which ruled that the trial judge had not erred in his handling of the case.
Trump’s appeal to the Supreme Court argues that the trial judge, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, improperly allowed evidence that prejudiced the jury. Specifically, his lawyers contend that testimony from two other women who alleged similar misconduct by Trump should not have been admitted, as there were no eyewitnesses, video evidence, or police reports supporting Carroll’s account. They also claimed Carroll waited over two decades to come forward, doing so only after Trump became president to maximize political damage and personal gain.
Last year, a federal appeals court upheld the verdict, ruling that Judge Kaplan did not abuse his discretion in allowing the additional testimony. The court found the evidence relevant to establishing a pattern of behavior. Trump’s request for a rehearing was denied in June, leading to this latest Supreme Court petition. It remains uncertain whether the high court will agree to hear the case, as it typically accepts only a small fraction of the appeals it receives.
In a separate but related case, Trump was ordered to pay Carroll $83 million for defamation after he continued to attack her credibility following the initial verdict. An appeal of that judgment was rejected in September, and Trump is now seeking a full bench review. His legal team has framed these efforts as part of a broader fight against what they call “Liberal Lawfare,” alleging political motivations behind the lawsuits.
Carroll, an 81-year-old former magazine columnist, has maintained that Trump assaulted her in the mid-1990s and defamed her in 2022 when he posted on his Truth Social platform denying her claims. Trump has repeatedly stated that Carroll is “not my type” and accused her of fabrication. Her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, has declined to comment on the Supreme Court appeal, emphasizing the ongoing legal process.
The outcome of this Supreme Court petition could have significant implications for Trump’s legal battles and public perception. If the court declines to hear the case, the verdicts will stand, reinforcing the findings against him. This development occurs amid other legal challenges Trump faces, highlighting the intersection of law and politics in his post-presidency.
