Trump seeks to overturn E. Jean Carroll verdict in court

President Donald Trump has requested the Supreme Court to review a $5 million civil judgment determining that he sexually abused and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll. This ruling stemmed from a 2023 jury decision, which found Trump liable for sexually assaulting Carroll in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996 and subsequently defaming her by disparaging her claims as a “hoax” during his presidency. Trump’s legal team contends that there was no substantial evidence, such as eyewitness accounts or police investigations, to support Carroll’s allegations.In their filing, Trump’s lawyers argued that Carroll waited more than two decades to make her accusations, alleging that her motivations were politically driven and intended to cause harm to Trump after he assumed the presidency. They suggested that her allegations were strategically timed for potential personal profit as well. This appeal marks another attempt by Trump to overturn judgments against him in Carroll’s ongoing legal battles.

The Supreme Court’s decision on whether to take up the case remains uncertain. A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team emphasized that there is a perceived public sentiment supporting Trump against what they described as politically motivated legal actions, labeled as “Witch Hunts” aimed at undermining him. Trump maintains his innocence and aims to continue his political mission while challenging the legal outcomes.

Previously, a federal appeals court upheld the initial judgment, rejecting Trump’s claims regarding the fairness of U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan’s decision to allow testimony from two women whose allegations against Trump have also been denied. This ruling reinforced the jury’s findings and demonstrated the challenges Trump faces in his legal endeavors surrounding the case.

Despite Trump’s numerous appeals to contest the judgments related to Carroll, including an earlier attempt regarding an $83 million defamation verdict, he has faced setbacks as his appeals continue to be denied. The ongoing litigation underscores the complex and contentious intersection of legal issues and political narratives surrounding Trump’s public persona.