On Monday, former President Donald Trump formally requested the Supreme Court to review a significant civil judgment amounting to $5 million. This judgment found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. The jury's decision in 2023 was based on Carroll's allegations that Trump assaulted her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996. Furthermore, Trump was deemed to have defamed Carroll during his presidency by dismissing her claims as a “hoax” and a “con job.”
In their Supreme Court filing, Trump's legal team emphasized the lack of direct evidence in the case. “There were no eyewitnesses, no video evidence, and no police report or investigation,” they stated. Trump’s lawyers argued that Carroll’s accusations were not credible, suggesting that she waited over 20 years to make these allegations, particularly after he became the 45th president. They claimed she did so to inflict political harm on Trump and to gain financially from her accusations.
It remains uncertain whether the Supreme Court will agree to take up this civil case. The initial report regarding Trump's court filing was provided by CNN. A spokesperson for Trump's legal team expressed confidence in their stance, stating, “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. President Trump will keep winning against Liberal Lawfare, as he continues to focus on his mission to Make America Great Again.”
In the preceding year, a federal appeals court upheld the judgment against Trump. His legal team had argued that U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the case, had made an error by allowing testimony from two women, Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who had also accused Trump of sexual abuse. However, in December, a panel from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Judge Kaplan did not “abuse his discretion” in permitting their testimonies. In June, Trump requested a rehearing from the appeals court, which was subsequently denied.
Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney, opted not to comment on the situation when approached by NBC News last night, indicating that the legal proceedings are ongoing and complex.
This case represents a critical moment not only for Trump but also for discussions surrounding accountability for sexual misconduct and the implications of defamation in the political arena. The outcome of Trump's Supreme Court petition could have significant ramifications for both his political future and the broader discourse on these important issues.
