US Supreme Court lets stand $5 million judgment against Trump in sexual assault case
The United States Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal from former President Donald Trump, effectively upholding a jury verdict that found him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. The court offered no explanation for its decision, which was issued alongside several other orders.
The case stems from a 2023 federal civil trial in Manhattan, where a jury found that Trump had sexually assaulted Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman department store in the mid-1990s and later defamed her when he denied the incident. The jury awarded Carroll $2 million for the assault and $3 million for defamation, for a total of $5 million. In December 2024, a federal appeals court upheld that ruling.
Trump, who has consistently denied the allegations, reacted on social media, calling the case a 'Fake Case' and vowing to continue his legal fight. He said the decision was 'surprising' and accused the justice system of being weaponized against him.
Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, welcomed the Supreme Court's action. 'Today's decision affirms once and for all the jury's unanimous verdict that President Donald J. Trump sexually assaulted and defamed E. Jean Carroll,' Kaplan said. 'His multiple efforts to appeal that verdict have all failed and today's ruling ends his quest to avoid accountability for his actions.'
In a separate defamation case, a jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million. That decision was also upheld on appeal.
Separately, the U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into whether Carroll lied under oath during her depositions in the civil cases, according to reports from CNN and The New York Times. The outlets, citing unnamed sources, said prosecutors are examining a statement in which Carroll claimed she received no outside funding. It was later revealed that billionaire Reid Hoffman had contributed to her legal fees. The investigation is in its early stages, and no charges have been filed.
The case highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding Trump as he campaigns for the presidency again. The Supreme Court's refusal to hear the appeal means the $5 million judgment stands, and Trump will be required to pay the amount.
