President Donald Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a civil case in which he was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. The case, which drew national attention, raises questions about presidential accountability and legal standards in high-profile civil trials.
Carroll, a journalist and former TV host, alleged that Trump assaulted her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the 1990s and later defamed her by denying the claims. In 2023, a Manhattan jury awarded Carroll $5 million, finding Trump responsible for battery and defamation. An appeals court upheld that verdict in late 2024.
Trump’s legal team argues that Carroll’s claims are unfounded, citing the lack of physical evidence, eyewitnesses, or a police report. Meanwhile, supporters of Carroll have praised her determination, noting she successfully pursued a high-profile case against a former president.
The Supreme Court has not yet decided whether it will take up the appeal. If the Court declines, the lower court’s verdict and financial award will remain in effect.
Carroll has also shared her thoughts on the original trial, suggesting that Trump’s potential testimony could have influenced the jury, which included members from Trump-leaning areas of upstate New York. She believes such a scenario might have led to a hung jury instead of a verdict against him.
