UPDATE: Former President Donald Trump has urgently appealed to the Supreme Court to review a $5 million verdict against him in the high-profile E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse case. This critical development comes after a New York civil jury found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming the writer, with the jury’s decision rendered in 2023.
The appeal, lodged on Monday, October 16, 2023, marks Trump’s last attempt to overturn the jury’s unanimous verdict. He has labeled Carroll’s allegations as “implausible” and criticized the evidence presented as stretching “credulity past the breaking point.” This move follows two years of unsuccessful attempts to secure a retrial.
In December 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit denied Trump’s previous appeal and rejected a request for an en banc review, effectively closing the door on lower court options. Now, the Supreme Court becomes Trump’s final hope for legal recourse.
The jury determined that sufficient evidence supported Carroll’s claim that Trump sexually assaulted her in a New York City department store during the mid-1990s. While the jury did not find him liable for rape, the trial judge, Lewis Kaplan, indicated that their ruling implied a determination of “digital rape.” Trump’s appeal argues that Judge Kaplan made errors in several evidentiary rulings that impacted the jury’s perception of his case.
Trump’s legal team has framed the case as a politically motivated attack, asserting that “the American People stand with President Trump” against what they term “Witch Hunts.” They emphasize that the allegations against him are part of a broader strategy to undermine his political aspirations.
Carroll’s allegations first gained widespread attention in 2019 when she published a book excerpt in New York Magazine, detailing the alleged assault. Since then, Trump has vehemently denied the claims and has also appealed a separate federal jury verdict from January 2024, which found him liable for additional defamatory statements about Carroll. Together, these cases have resulted in over $88 million awarded to Carroll.
As the legal battle intensifies, the implications of this case extend beyond the courtroom, resonating with Trump’s supporters and critics alike. The outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision could significantly affect Trump’s political future and public perception as he continues to campaign for a potential return to the presidency.
As this story develops, all eyes will be on the Supreme Court for what could be a landmark ruling in a case that has captivated the nation. Stay tuned for more updates on this urgent legal matter.
