The Supreme Court has once again rejected an appeal from former President Donald Trump concerning the E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse and defamation case. Trump's legal team had sought to have the court reconsider its denial of his petition, a move that is rarely successful.
This latest rejection pertains to Trump's argument that presidential immunity should shield him from certain legal actions related to remarks made during his presidency. Specifically, his team argued that a defamation case stemming from comments made while he occupied the White House should be covered by this immunity.
In 2019, E. Jean Carroll's team initiated a defamation lawsuit against Trump over disparaging remarks he made about her. In 2024, a federal jury found in her favor, ordering Trump to pay $83.3 million. Trump's current appeal aimed to have the Supreme Court review this verdict.
Trump's lawyers, including Martinich-Sauter, also petitioned for a rehearing of the sexual abuse and defamation case in July. They contended that the presidential immunity questions central to the ongoing legal challenges could impact the $5 million judgment awarded in a related case, as the same remarks were used as evidence in both trials. Martinich-Sauter cited Supreme Court precedent from another personal legal dispute involving a former president, where the court ruled that former presidents have immunity from prosecution for official acts, but not for unofficial ones. The Supreme Court had vacated a lower court's decision in that case in 2024.
The court's repeated denial of Trump's petitions underscores the ongoing legal challenges he faces from E. Jean Carroll.