Writer E. Jean Carroll has finally collected the $5.6 million owed to her after a jury found President Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, her legal team announced Tuesday. The payment, deposited on July 9, marks the conclusion of a three-year legal battle that began with a 2023 verdict.
“Three years ago, a unanimous nine-person jury found President Trump liable for sexually assaulting and defaming E. Jean Carroll,” said Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney, in a statement. “Today, we are pleased to report that she has received the damages payment the jury awarded her as a result of that verdict.”
The U.S. District Court in lower Manhattan posted a notice on its online docket confirming the total amount had been disbursed to Kaplan’s law firm. The Hill has reached out to Trump’s legal team for comment.
Carroll first went public with her allegations in 2019, during Trump’s first term, accusing him of assaulting her in a luxury department store dressing room in 1996. Trump has consistently denied the encounter, claiming he never met Carroll and that her story was fabricated.
The payment stems from Carroll’s first successful lawsuit against Trump, filed in 2023. In that trial, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages. A second trial in 2024 resulted in an additional $83.3 million verdict for defamation, which is still under appeal.
Trump had attempted to delay the $5.6 million payment by petitioning the Supreme Court earlier this month, but the high court unanimously rejected his request. Following that denial, Carroll’s attorneys moved to release the funds, which were held in a court-controlled account.
This case underscores the broader challenges of holding a sitting president accountable through civil litigation. As noted in a recent analysis, civil lawsuits may be the last resort for Trump accountability, given the hurdles of criminal prosecution.
Carroll’s victory is a rare instance of a sexual assault survivor prevailing against a former president, and it has fueled ongoing debates about legal accountability for public officials. The payment also comes amid a turbulent political landscape, with Trump’s foreign policy moves drawing scrutiny. For instance, 79% of Americans expect a long Iran war following Trump’s reversal of the Hormuz toll, while Trump proposes a 20% toll on the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran counters with a cheaper fee.
Carroll’s legal team has not indicated whether further action is planned, but the payment represents a significant milestone in her pursuit of justice. Trump’s legal challenges, both civil and criminal, continue to mount as he navigates a second term.
