Trump Appeals to Supreme Court to Overturn Verdict in Carroll Case

Former President Donald Trump has officially requested the Supreme Court to review a substantial $5 million civil judgment. This judgment, awarded by a jury in 2023, found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll.

Background of the Carroll Case

The case stems from allegations made by Carroll, claiming Trump assaulted her in a Manhattan department store in 1996. Following these allegations, Trump publicly referred to them as a “hoax” and a “con job,” which contributed to the defamation aspect of the lawsuit.

Trump’s Arguments

In the filing to the Supreme Court, Trump’s legal team argued that there was no eyewitness testimony, video evidence, or formal police reports to substantiate Carroll’s accusations. They contended that Carroll delayed reporting her claims for over two decades, suggesting political motives aligned with Trump’s presidency.

• No eyewitnesses reported the alleged incident.
• No video evidence exists to support Carroll’s claims.
• There was no police report filed at the time.

Previous Court Decisions

A federal appeals court upheld the initial judgment last year after Trump contended that U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan made a mistake by admitting testimony from two women, Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who also accused Trump of sexual misconduct. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed that the judge did not misuse his discretion by allowing their statements.

Ongoing Legal Battles

Trump has persistently sought to overturn the judgments associated with Carroll’s cases. Yet, a separate appeal to reverse an $83 million defamation judgment, related to comments he made during and after his presidency, was also dismissed in September.

Public Reaction and Legal Team’s Statement

A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team emphasized that the American public supports Trump’s position, referring to the judgments as politically motivated “Witch Hunts.” They asserted that Trump will continue to combat what they term “Liberal Lawfare” as part of his campaign efforts.

As the case moves forward, it remains uncertain whether the Supreme Court will agree to take on this contentious civil case. Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, refrained from commenting on the matter following the latest developments.