The US Supreme Court has denied a request by former President Donald Trump to overturn a $5 million jury verdict in a sexual abuse case brought by E. Jean Carroll, a former writer for Elle magazine. The verdict, which was handed down in 2022, found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll. Trump has consistently denied the allegations and accused Carroll of lying.
In a separate case, Trump was also found liable for defaming Carroll. The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case is a significant blow to Trump’s efforts to have the verdict overturned. Trump’s lawyers had argued that the verdict was unfairly brought and was an attempt to hurt the former president.
However, an appeals court had already rejected this argument, finding that Trump had failed to meet the burden of proof that errors occurred in the case to warrant a new trial. The Supreme Court justices, who are often sympathetic to Trump’s arguments, did not provide a reason for their decision not to hear the case. This is not unusual, as the court typically does not explain its reasoning in such orders.
The decision means that the $5 million verdict against Trump will stand. Carroll’s lawsuit against Trump is one of several high-profile cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct against the former president. The case has drawn significant attention due to the serious nature of the allegations and the fact that Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case brings an end to Trump’s efforts to have the verdict overturned, but it is likely that the case will continue to attract significant attention in the coming days and weeks.
