Left: Journalist E. Jean Carroll departs from the courthouse after the conclusion of the damages trial against Donald Trump at Manhattan federal court on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, in New York City. (John Angelillo, Alamy Live News via AP)/ Right: Republican former President Donald Trump speaks at a primary election night party in Nashua, N.H., Jan. 23, 2024. AP Photo/Matt Rourke.)
A New York federal judge has denied Donald Trump’s demand for an administrative stay of $83.3 million defamation judgment to writer E. Jean Carroll.
In a court filing on Thursday, United States District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rebuked the former president, who requested more time to stay an $83.3 million defamation award to Carroll, claiming a threat of “irreparable injury.”
“Mr. Trump’s current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions,” Kaplan wrote. “He has had since Jan. 26 to organize his finances with the knowledge that he might need to bond this judgment, yet he waited until 25 days after the jury verdict — and only shortly before the expiration of Rule 62’s automatic 30-day stay of judgment — to file his prior motion for an unsecured or partially secured stay pending resolution of post-trial motions.”
As Law&Crime reported, Trump’s request came via a two-page letter from attorneys Alina Habba and John Sauer, which asked the court to renew an existing stay on the execution of the payment to Carroll that is set to expire on Monday or drastically reduce what the former president pays upfront.
Trump has proposed roughly $24 million on an unsecured bond. The rest that he owes Carroll would be held off as he fights the order on appeal.
The former president filed a number of post-trial motions arguing for a new trial, claiming the judge had “completely muzzled” his testimony at trial and unfairly prejudiced him.
As Trump looks for ways to delay paying Carroll, he also has the pressing issue of $464 million owed to New York State after his defeat there in civil fraud court. Trump filed a notice for a motion to appeal the enforcement of that bond in February, saying he could post $100 million but needed a way to come up with the rest of the cash by potentially selling off his properties.
Read Kaplan’s denial here.
Law&Crime’s Brandi Buchman contributed to this report.
