On Monday, former President Donald Trump officially petitioned the Supreme Court to review a significant civil verdict amounting to $5 million, which found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. This case is pivotal as it marks the first time this contentious issue has escalated to the highest court in the United States, highlighting the ongoing legal battles faced by Trump.
The backdrop of this legal dispute is characterized by Trump's consistent claims that the lawsuits against him, including this one, are politically motivated. The federal appeals court upheld the jury's verdict last year, confirming that Trump is required to pay Carroll both compensatory and punitive damages for his defamatory statements. According to Carroll's attorney, the court has made it clear that E. Jean Carroll was truthful in her allegations while stating that Trump was not.
In the appeal submitted on Monday, which Axios reviewed, Trump’s legal team emphasized the absence of critical evidence in the case. They pointed out that there were no eyewitnesses, video evidence, or police reports pertaining to the alleged incident. The appeal argues that Carroll waited over two decades to make her accusations against Trump, suggesting her motives were politically driven, particularly after he ascended to the presidency, allowing her to maximize both political damage to him and personal gain.
The appeal has not yet been listed on the Supreme Court's public docket, leaving uncertainty about whether the justices will agree to hear the case. This uncertainty adds another layer of complexity to an already contentious legal situation.
E. Jean Carroll has filed two lawsuits against Trump, asserting that he sexually assaulted her in a New York department store during the mid-1990s. Carroll's first lawsuit, filed in 2019, focused on defamation, while her second, initiated in 2022, sought punitive damages for the psychological harm and reputational damage she suffered. In the first case, a jury awarded a staggering $83.3 million judgment against Trump, while the 2022 ruling resulted in Carroll receiving $5 million.
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team expressed that the American people are rallying behind the former president, demanding an end to what they describe as "Witch Hunts." The spokesperson emphasized that Trump remains committed to overcoming what they perceive as politically motivated legal challenges as he continues his mission to Make America Great Again.
As of Monday evening, attorneys and spokespersons for Carroll had not responded to Axios' request for comment regarding the recent developments in the case. This ongoing legal battle continues to resonate within the context of the MeToo movement, with the Carroll verdict serving as a significant point of discussion about accountability and justice.
