A federal judge on Wednesday directed the release of $5.8 million to writer E. Jean Carroll, ending a three-year wait for damages awarded in a defamation case against President Donald Trump. District Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered the funds, held in escrow during Trump’s appeal, to be turned over to Carroll.
The money stems from a 2023 jury verdict finding Trump liable for defaming Carroll after she accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan Bergdorf Goodman dressing room during the 1990s. Trump, while in office, called her claims a “con job” and a “hoax,” statements the jury determined harmed her reputation and career.
Kaplan’s ruling came after the Supreme Court last week declined to hear Trump’s appeal, leaving the verdict intact without explanation. Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said the high court’s decision should mark the end of Trump’s legal maneuvering. “After four years of litigation across every level of the federal court system, it is time for this case to end,” she told The Guardian. “Under the Court’s Stipulation and Order, Carroll is now entitled to obtain payment of the money due under the judgment.”
Trump’s legal team had urged the court to keep the funds in escrow while they pursue a rehearing petition before the Supreme Court. They argued that releasing the money would cause “irreparable harm” to Trump, while Carroll would face no disadvantage from waiting. Within an hour of Kaplan’s order, Trump’s lawyers filed an appeal.
The case has drawn attention as Trump continues to navigate multiple legal battles while campaigning for a return to the White House. The defamation verdict is one of several civil and criminal cases against him, including ongoing disputes over his use of political rhetoric and security issues. Separately, Trump has faced scrutiny over his foreign policy moves, such as aggressive stances toward Iran that have drawn bipartisan criticism.
Judge Kaplan, who presided over the trial, rejected Trump’s arguments that the funds should be frozen. The order clears the way for Carroll to finally receive the compensation awarded by the jury, though further appeals could delay the process.
Carroll’s legal victory has been seen as a significant rebuke to Trump’s pattern of attacking accusers. The case also underscores the broader legal pressures on the former president as he seeks to regain political power.
