Trump Appeals to Supreme Court to Overturn E. Jean Carroll Sexual Abuse Verdict

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On Monday, former President Donald Trump made a significant legal move by petitioning the Supreme Court to overturn a jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s. This request, filed by Trump’s personal legal team, marks a crucial moment in a lengthy legal battle that has persisted for years.

E. Jean Carroll, a writer, has twice taken Trump to court, securing a total of $88.3 million in damages through these trials. This petition is the first instance where the ongoing litigation has reached the nation’s highest court.

The initial verdict in 2023 determined that Trump was responsible for sexually assaulting Carroll in a dressing room of a Manhattan department store during the 1990s. Additionally, he was found guilty of defaming her by dismissing her allegations as false when she stepped forward during his presidency. As a result, Trump was ordered to pay $5 million in damages.

In a 33-page document submitted to the Supreme Court, Trump’s legal team described Carroll’s accusations as “facially implausible” and politically driven. They appealed to the justices to intervene, arguing that certain evidentiary rulings had unfairly influenced the outcome of the trial.

Although the petition has not yet been officially recorded in public court documents, The Hill has obtained a copy through Trump’s legal representatives, providing a glimpse into the arguments poised to be examined by the Supreme Court.

“Carroll waited more than 20 years to falsely accuse Donald Trump, who she politically opposes, until after he became the 45th President, when she could maximize political injury to him and profit for herself,” the petition reads.

Trump contends the jury improperly saw the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape and testimony from other women who accused Trump of sexual assault, which he denies.

“The purpose was solely, and improperly, prejudicial,” Trump’s lawyers wrote of the tape’s introduction.

A midlevel appeals court rejected the claims in an 8-2 ruling in June.

The Supreme Court generally does not take up cases purely for error correction, but Trump’s lawyers contend the evidentiary rulings implicate several legal questions that have divided the lower courts.

The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for Carroll for comment.

“The American People stand with President Trump as they demand an immediate end to all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded travesty of the Carroll Hoaxes,” a spokesman for Trump’s legal team said in a statement. “President Trump will keep winning against Liberal Lawfare, as he continues to focus on his mission to Make America Great Again.”

The justices are poised to review Trump’s request to hear the case at a closed-door conference later this term.

A judge ruled the jury’s verdict made Trump automatically liable in Carroll’s separate lawsuit, which brought additional defamation claims. Carroll took Trump to trial again, and that jury went on to award her $83.3 million. It has not yet reached the Supreme Court.