A federal court in New York has ordered US President Donald Trump to pay writer E. Jean Carroll more than $5 million awarded to her after a jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation.
Judge Orders Payment
Judge Lewis Kaplan on Wednesday directed the release of the $5 million judgment, along with nearly $800,000 in accrued interest, to Carroll after the US Supreme Court declined to hear Trump's appeal last month. A jury in 2023 found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s and for defaming her in 2022 when he denied her allegations. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages.
Three years ago, Trump deposited about $5.55 million into the federal court's registry while pursuing his appeal. Judge Kaplan has now ordered that the funds be transferred to Carroll's legal team.
Trump Vows to Continue Legal Battle
Despite the ruling, Trump's lawyers filed a notice indicating they intend to appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Following the Supreme Court's refusal to hear his appeal, Trump insisted he would continue fighting the case, according to ABC News.
"I will continue the fight against this Weaponization and Lawfare Case against me, including the ridiculous claim of Defamation, with all of my power and strength," Trump said.
As reported by BBC News, Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, welcomed the latest order, stating: "After four years of litigation across every level of the federal court system, it is time for this case to end." A separate jury award of $83 million in damages in a related case remains under appeal.
