Attorneys for E. Jean Carroll on Tuesday urged a federal judge to compel Donald Trump to pay the $5 million awarded to her by a jury that found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation. This development follows the U.S. Supreme Court's decision earlier this week to decline, without dissent, to hear Trump's appeal of the verdict and judgment.
In a new court filing, Carroll's attorneys stated that Trump's legal team had informed them of the former president's potential intent to ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its denial of his appeal. "After four years of litigation across every level of the federal court system, it is time for this case to end," wrote attorney Roberta Kaplan. "And under the Court's Stipulation and Order, Carroll is now entitled to obtain payment of the money due under the judgment."
Trump, in a post on his social media platform, vowed to continue contesting the case. "I will continue the fight against this Weaponization and Lawfare Case against me, including the ridiculous claim of Defamation, with all of my power and strength," Trump stated.
A New York jury determined in 2023 that Trump was liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the mid-1990s and for defaming her in 2022 when he denied her allegations. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. The funds have been held in escrow pending the resolution of Trump's appeal.
Kaplan asserted that Trump had agreed to the terms of a stipulation and order that stipulated the funds placed in the court's account would be disbursed upon specific conditions. "Those conditions were satisfied when the Supreme Court denied his petition for certiorari," Kaplan wrote. "It is time for him to pay Carroll."
Trump's appeal had challenged the trial judge's decision to allow the jury to consider an excerpt from the "Access Hollywood" tape, in which Trump made lewd remarks he characterized as "locker room talk." He also objected to the judge permitting testimony from two other women, Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who also accused him of sexual assault, allegations Trump denies.