A US federal judge has authorized the release of nearly $5.8 million to E Jean Carroll, allowing her to collect the damages awarded in a 2023 civil lawsuit in which a jury found US President Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The total amount includes the original $5 million verdict along with accumulated interest.
The ruling was issued by US District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan after the US Supreme Court declined on June 29 to hear Trump’s appeal. The money had remained in escrow while the legal challenge was pending. With the Supreme Court refusing to review the case, the court approved the release of the funds to Carroll.
Shortly after the judge’s decision, Donald Trump filed a new appeal with the federal appeals court in Manhattan. His legal team also submitted a fresh request asking the Supreme Court to reconsider its earlier refusal, although such requests are rarely granted.
Trump has consistently denied Carroll’s allegations, describing them as a “hoax” and a “con job.” His lawyers argued that Carroll should not receive the money while further appeals remain possible. They claimed that if Carroll donates the funds, recovering the money would be difficult should Trump later succeed in overturning the verdict. They also argued that releasing the funds now could affect public confidence in the judicial process.
E Jean Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, first accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store during the mid 1990s. Trump has repeatedly denied knowing Carroll and rejected all allegations made against him.
The legal dispute has continued for nearly seven years. In a separate case decided in January 2024, another jury ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million in damages over additional defamatory statements. Trump is also seeking to challenge that judgment, arguing that he is protected by presidential immunity.
The long running legal battle between Trump and Carroll continues as both sides pursue further appeals in the US court system.
