Trump Appeals Carroll Verdict to Supreme Court
Former President Donald Trump plans to petition the Supreme Court to overturn the $5 million verdict awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll in her civil lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that Trump sexually abused Carroll in a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s and subsequently defamed her.
Trump's legal team signaled their intent in a recent court filing, requesting an extension to the deadline for challenging the verdict, pushing it from September 10th to November 11th. They argue that the trial and the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decisions upholding the verdict raise "significant issues" warranting Supreme Court review.
Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, expressed skepticism about Trump's chances, stating, "We do not believe that President Trump will be able to present any legal issues in the Carroll cases that merit review by the United States Supreme Court."
The Case's History
Carroll testified in 2023 that Trump's friendly encounter in the spring of 1996 escalated into a violent attack in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room. The jury found Trump liable for both the sexual abuse and for defaming Carroll in October 2022 when he denied her accusations.
An appellate panel upheld the verdict in December, dismissing Trump's claims that Judge Lewis A. Kaplan's rulings prejudiced the trial. Specifically, Trump objected to the allowance of testimony from two other women who accused him of similar sexual misconduct in the 1970s and 2005. Trump has denied all allegations made by these women.
What's Next?
The Supreme Court's decision on whether to hear the case could have significant implications for Trump and future defamation lawsuits. The legal battle continues to unfold, with both sides preparing for a potential showdown before the nation's highest court.