Trump seeks to block $5.8 million Carroll payout pending second high court bid
President Donald Trump is attempting to halt the nearly $5.8 million payment to writer E. Jean Carroll following the Supreme CourtS refusal to review his appeal of a New York civil court verdict that found him liable for sexual assault and defamation. Trump’s attorneys requested that the funds in escrow not be released,arguing that Carroll cannot collect the judgment while Trump’s petition for reconsideration is pending before the Supreme Court. Despite the Supreme Court’s June decision declining to hear Trump’s appeal, his legal team claims that disbursing the funds now would cause irreparable harm, as proceedings are still ongoing.
Carroll’s side has urged the immediate release of the money, asserting that the Supreme Court’s denial effectively ends Trump’s avenues for appeal.Though,trump’s attorneys contend that the escrow agreement prevents disbursement until all legal processes are tired,including potential rehearings.They also warn that releasing the funds prematurely could jeopardize Carroll’s ability to collect if the verdict is later overturned. The case is further complicated by Trump’s plans to seek review of a separate legal matter involving his alleged immunity from a subsequent defamation claim, for which Carroll was awarded an additional $83.3 million. The Supreme Court’s recent decisions and pending rulings will determine whether the funds will be released during these ongoing legal proceedings.
President Donald Trump is making a last-ditch effort to stop his payment of nearly $5.8 million to writer E. Jean Carroll after the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal of a federal New York civil court verdict finding him liable for sexually abusing and defaming her.
In a late Tuesday filing, Trump’s attorneys asked U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan not to disburse the funds held in escrow, arguing that the former Elle Magazine columnist cannot collect the judgment while Trump’s petition asking the Supreme Court to reconsider its refusal to hear the case remains pending.
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“Collection cannot begin while proceedings remain pending before the Supreme Court, which is currently the case,” attorneys Josh Halpern and Michael Madaio wrote.
The Supreme Court declined without noted dissent last month to hear Trump’s appeal of the May 2023 verdict, which found him liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the mid-1990s and later defaming her after she publicly accused him. Trump has consistently denied the allegations.
Following the high court’s June ruling, Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, urged the judge to release the money immediately, arguing that the Supreme Court’s denial marked “the end of the line” for Trump’s appeal.
Trump’s lawyers countered that the parties’ 2023 escrow agreement bars disbursement until all Supreme Court proceedings have concluded, including any petition for rehearing. They also argued that Trump could suffer irreparable harm if the funds are released before his legal options are exhausted.
The filing notes Carroll has repeatedly said she intends to donate any money recovered from Trump, raising concerns that the funds could become unrecoverable if the judgment were later overturned.
Trump’s rehearing petition faces steep odds. The Supreme Court rarely grants requests to reconsider its denial of a petition for review.
His attorneys nevertheless argue the justices should revisit the case because Trump intends to ask the court to hear a separate appeal involving whether he is immune from a second defamation lawsuit Carroll brought over statements Trump made while serving as president. In that case, a jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in January 2024.
SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO HEAR TRUMP’S APPEAL OF E. JEAN CARROLL VERDICT
Trump’s lawyers contend a ruling recognizing presidential immunity in that case could also undermine the earlier $5 million verdict because Carroll introduced some of those presidential statements as evidence during the 2023 trial. A similar legal defense is playing out in appeals processes over Trump’s May 2024 guilty verdict in the 34-felony count hush money trial, which his lawyer argued involved evidence that should have been shielded by presidential immunity. The Supreme Court did not issue its landmark 2024 finding that presidents enjoy broad immunity for official actions until after that trial had concluded.
The judge has not yet ruled on whether the funds should remain in escrow while Trump’s renewed Supreme Court bid proceeds.
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