Donald Trump and the Justice Department are urging the Supreme Court to dismiss an $83 million defamation verdict awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll, asserting that a sitting president cannot be sued for statements made during their term.
This marks the second time Trump has sought the Supreme Court's intervention to overturn damages awarded to Carroll. In June, the court declined to hear his appeal of a separate $5 million verdict that found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation.
The current appeal focuses on comments Trump made in 2019, during his presidency. The Justice Department is invoking the Westfall Act, a law that provides immunity to federal employees for actions taken within the scope of their official duties. Federal attorneys argue that without the court's intervention, the president could face nearly $100 million in personal liability for conduct that occurred while he was in office.
Trump's legal team contends that an appeals court "engaged in procedural contortions" by not fully addressing his presidential immunity claims. They argue that the $83 million award is "grossly excessive" and that this case is unprecedented, as it's the first time a court has imposed damages on a president for conduct during their term.
Carroll, a longtime advice columnist and former television host, testified that Trump sexually assaulted her in 1996. She first shared her accusations in a 2019 memoir. She sued Trump for defamation after he publicly denied knowing her and suggested she fabricated the story to boost book sales, stating she was "not my type."
A Manhattan jury awarded Carroll $83 million in damages in January 2024. Lower courts have so far rejected Trump's attempts to have the verdict overturned. However, a New York-based appeals court agreed to delay the payout until the Supreme Court decides whether to hear the case.
In a separate 2023 verdict, another jury awarded Carroll $5 million, concluding Trump had subjected her to sexual abuse and defamation for remarks made after his first term ended. That judgment has since been paid.
Trump has consistently maintained he cannot be sued for his comments regarding Carroll, asserting he does not know her and denies any wrongdoing.