Supreme Court rejects Trump's bid to overturn E. Jean Carroll case

The United States Supreme Court has turned down former President Donald Trump’s request to overturn the judgment in the E. Jean Carroll sexual‑assault and defamation lawsuit. The decision, issued in a brief order, upholds the lower‑court finding that Trump was liable for both assault and for making false statements about the allegations. By refusing the petition, the Court leaves in place a monetary award that exceeds $5 million, which Trump has already paid to the writer.

Carroll, a journalist and author, first accused Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room in the mid‑1990s. After Trump publicly denied the claim, she sued for defamation, arguing that his statements damaged her reputation. A Manhattan jury later concluded that Trump had indeed assaulted Carroll and that his denials were false, awarding her damages for both claims. Trump appealed the verdict, seeking a stay of the payment and a reversal of the finding.

The Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene does not constitute a ruling on the merits of the case; rather, it signals that the Court found no compelling reason to review the lower court’s decision. Legal analysts note that the denial effectively ends Trump’s legal avenues to avoid the judgment, at least for the time being. The outcome reinforces the precedent that a sitting or former president can be held accountable in civil court for personal conduct.

The ruling arrives amid a series of legal challenges facing Trump, many of which are still pending in various jurisdictions. For Carroll, the decision affirms the jury’s verdict and ensures that the compensation awarded for the alleged assault and the subsequent defamation remains enforceable.

Original reporting: BBC News.