On Monday, Trump urged the Supreme Court to take the rare step of re-evaluating its June 29 decision to reject his appeal. If the court decides to revisit the case, it could delay Carroll’s access to the funds currently held in escrow for the jury award and interest.
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The Supreme Court did not provide any remarks when it dismissed Trump’s appeal, which revolved around technical issues related to federal evidence rules for civil cases. Trump contended that jurors should not have been exposed to testimony regarding two previous alleged sexual assaults or to the Access Hollywood tape where he made lewd remarks about being able to grab women without their consent.
This verdict is one of two that Carroll secured against Trump, who has signaled he will also pursue Supreme Court review of an $83.3 million judgment in a separate defamation case. The Justice Department plans to support that initiative, which is expected to present different legal questions since that case involves statements Trump made while in office.
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Regarding the case that resulted in the $5 million verdict, Carroll testified that Trump assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in 1996. Trump has consistently refuted the allegations.
Carroll further accused Trump of defamation when he claimed on social media in 2022 that her accusations were a “complete con job,” a “Hoax,” and a “Scam.” In the same statement, Trump remarked that Carroll “is not my type!”
The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the verdict, noting that the testimonies of other alleged victims and the Access Hollywood recording were instrumental in demonstrating a pattern of Trump’s behavior.
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Carroll, previously an advice columnist for Elle magazine, brought her allegations to light in 2019. She filed her lawsuit in 2022 under a New York statute that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for sexual assault claims.
Carroll’s attorney has requested the district court to promptly release the funds, arguing that any attempt by Trump to have the Supreme Court reconsider its decision is merely a tactic to delay proceedings. Carroll states that she is currently owed nearly $5.8 million, including interest.
The judge is currently deliberating on that request and has instructed Trump’s attorney to respond by Tuesday.
