A New York judge has ruled that E. Jean Carroll can collect a total of nearly $5.8 million from former President Donald Trump. This decision follows a jury's determination in 2023 that found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll.
Judge Orders Payment After Lengthy Legal Proceedings
US District Judge Lewis Kaplan, based in Manhattan, ordered the disbursement of the awarded funds, which includes interest on the initial $5 million verdict. These funds were previously held in escrow due to Trump's appeal against the ruling.
The Supreme Court declined to hear Trump's appeal on June 29, allowing the judgment to proceed. Judge Kaplan emphasized the prolonged nature of the case, stating, "Defendant has been stalling this case for years. It is time for him to ‘do equity’ and pay the judgment."
Defendant is out of time. Carroll has waited more than three years for a jury’s verdict to be paid. She should not have to wait any longer.
E. Jean Carroll’s lawyers
- Carroll accused Trump of raping her in the mid-1990s.
- Trump has consistently denied the allegations, calling them a hoax.
Carroll, now 82, plans to invest the awarded amount to support her retirement. Her legal team criticized Trump's actions as attempts to prolong the proceedings.
Trump's legal representatives argued that disbursing the funds could undermine public confidence in the judicial process. They claimed that the decision to allow Carroll to collect damages could harm Trump if the Supreme Court later changed the verdict.
Ongoing Legal Challenges
This ruling is part of a complex legal history involving multiple verdicts against Trump. In January 2024, a different jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million for similar allegations stemming from his denial in 2019.
Trump's legal battles have raised questions about presidential immunity and the implications of his public statements made while in office.