Trump Pays E. Jean Carroll After Appeal Loss
Writer E. Jean Carroll has officially received more than $5.6 million awarded to her after a federal jury found President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming her in a landmark civil lawsuit. The payment concludes a lengthy appeals process over the 2023 judgment and represents the first major damages award Trump has been required to satisfy in Carroll’s long-running legal battle against him. While Trump continues to challenge a separate $83.3 million defamation judgment, the release of the first award marks a significant milestone in one of the most closely watched civil cases involving a sitting U.S. president.
The lawsuit originated from Carroll’s allegation that Trump sexually assaulted her inside a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan during the mid-1990s. Trump consistently denied the accusation, stating he never assaulted Carroll and questioning her credibility. Carroll later filed civil lawsuits accusing Trump of sexual abuse and defamation after he publicly dismissed her allegations as fabricated and politically motivated. Because the case was brought in civil court rather than criminal court, the jury was required to apply the lower “preponderance of the evidence” standard instead of the criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
In May 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and for defaming her through public statements denying the incident. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Trump immediately appealed the verdict, and the money was placed in the federal court’s Court Registry Investment System (CRIS), where it remained in escrow while appellate proceedings continued. As interest accumulated during the appeal, the total amount eventually exceeded $5.6 million.
Trump pursued multiple legal challenges seeking to overturn the verdict. However, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal in June 2026, leaving the jury’s verdict intact. Following the Supreme Court’s refusal, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered that the funds held in escrow be released to Carroll. Trump later attempted to delay the payment further by asking the court to keep the money frozen while he sought reconsideration from the Supreme Court, but the judge rejected that request. The court concluded that the conditions governing release of the escrowed funds had been satisfied, clearing the way for payment to Carroll.
Court records show the payment was transferred from the escrow account on July 14, and Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, confirmed that her client had received the funds. Carroll reportedly stated that she intends to place the money into a retirement account. Kaplan described the payment as an important step in enforcing the jury’s verdict after years of litigation and unsuccessful appeals by Trump.
Although the first judgment has now been satisfied, the broader legal dispute remains unresolved. Trump continues to appeal a separate $83.3 million judgment entered in January 2024 after another jury found him liable for additional defamatory statements he made about Carroll following the first verdict. That award includes compensatory and punitive damages intended to address continued reputational harm caused by Trump’s repeated public denials and attacks on Carroll after the initial judgment. Trump has posted a bond securing that judgment while his appeal remains pending.
The Carroll litigation has become one of the most significant civil defamation cases involving a U.S. president. It illustrates that public officials remain subject to civil liability for defamatory statements even while holding office. The case also demonstrates how plaintiffs can successfully enforce judgments despite lengthy appellate proceedings by requiring defendants to secure damages through escrow or appeal bonds pending review. Legal experts note that the release of the escrowed funds reflects standard appellate procedures rather than a new finding of liability, as Trump’s legal responsibility had already been established by the jury and upheld through the appellate process.
More broadly, the payment reinforces the principle that civil judgments remain enforceable once appellate remedies have been exhausted. While Trump continues to deny Carroll’s allegations and characterizes the litigation as politically motivated, federal courts have repeatedly upheld the underlying verdict. The payment therefore represents not a new ruling, but the practical enforcement of an existing judgment following the completion of the appeals process. The outcome may continue to influence future high-profile defamation litigation involving public figures, demonstrating both the legal consequences of defamatory statements and the importance of preserving funds while appeals are pending.
Key Legal Outcome
- E. Jean Carroll received more than $5.6 million, representing the 2023 jury award plus accrued interest, after the release of funds held in escrow.
- The payment followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to hear Trump’s appeal, leaving the jury verdict intact.
- Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered the release of the escrowed funds after rejecting Trump’s request to delay payment.
- The 2023 jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in the civil case.
- Trump’s separate appeal of the $83.3 million defamation judgment remains pending.
Why It Matters
- The payment concludes the appeals process for one of the most prominent civil judgments involving a U.S. president.
- It demonstrates that civil damages awards remain enforceable after appellate review is exhausted.
- The case reinforces accountability for defamatory statements made by public figures.
- The ruling highlights the role of escrow accounts and appeal bonds in preserving judgments during lengthy appeals.
- The remaining appeal involving the separate $83.3 million award could further shape defamation law involving high-profile public officials.
Related:
Judge Orders Trump To Pay Carroll $5M for Assault, Defamation
