US Supreme Court refuses to hear Trump appeal in E Jean Carroll sexual abuse case

The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal filed by President Donald Trump in the civil case brought by writer E Jean Carroll. The case, which concluded with a jury finding Trump liable for defamation and sexual abuse, will now stand, requiring Trump to pay $5 million in damages awarded to Carroll.

The New York jury's verdict in 2023 determined that Trump had sexually assaulted Carroll in the 1990s and later defamed her by describing her allegations as a hoax on social media. Trump had denied the allegations and argued that the trial judge improperly allowed evidence that unfairly influenced the jury.

A federal appeals court upheld the verdict last year, rejecting Trump's request for a new trial. The president then sought intervention from the Supreme Court, but the justices declined to take up the case without comment. This marks the final legal avenue for Trump to overturn the verdict, and he is now obligated to pay the damages awarded.

The Supreme Court's decision follows a similar rejection by a federal appeals court in June last year, which declined to rehear Trump's challenge. As of now, Trump has not publicly commented on the court's decision.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of a sitting president and the nature of the allegations. E Jean Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, filed the lawsuit after Trump denied her claims and accused her of fabricating the incident for publicity.

Legal experts note that the Supreme Court's refusal to hear the appeal is not unexpected, as such petitions are rarely granted. The decision reaffirms the lower court's ruling and closes one chapter in a case that has been closely watched for its implications on defamation and sexual assault claims.

Carroll's legal team has not yet issued a statement on the Supreme Court's decision.