Trump Pays $5.625M to E. Jean Carroll After Legal Appeals End

Donald Trump paid E. Jean Carroll $5.625 million after appeals and Supreme Court refusal.

In May 2023, a federal jury found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, awarding her $5 million in damages. Carroll's lawsuit arose from allegations that Trump sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s and then defamed her by publicly denying those claims.

Trump pursued multiple appeals, prompting years of legal delay. Appellate courts upheld the verdict, and on June 29, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review Trump's appeal, effectively affirming the lower court rulings.

Following this, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered Trump to pay Carroll $5 million plus nearly $625,000 in accrued interest. Judge Kaplan commented, “In the last analysis, defendant has been stalling this case for years. A jury unanimously concluded that he sexually abused and defamed plaintiff and awarded her damages accordingly.”

Trump’s attempts to delay payment through further appeals were rejected. On July 14, 2024, Carroll received the full payment of $5.625 million. Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said, “We are pleased that the courts have recognized the validity of Ms. Carroll's claims and that justice has been served.”

This final payment marks the end of a prolonged enforcement battle involving civil litigation against a former president. It highlights the challenges courts face in enforcing judgments in high-profile defamation and sexual abuse cases, emphasizing evolving legal strategies for compliance and enforcement.