Writer E. Jean Carroll has called on US President Donald Trump to pay nearly $5.8 million, including interest, after the US Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal in a civil case involving allegations of sexual abuse and defamation.

The latest legal development marks another setback for Trump in a case that has been winding its way through the US court system for several years. Carroll's legal team argues that with every avenue of appeal now exhausted in the $5 million judgment, the president should no longer be allowed to delay payment.

Supreme Court Declines Trump's Appeal

The legal dispute dates back to a 2023 civil trial in New York, where a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll during an encounter in the mid-1990s. Jurors also concluded that Trump defamed Carroll by publicly denying her allegations and describing them as false.

The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. With accrued interest over the past three years, her lawyers say the amount now stands at nearly $5.8 million.

Trump appealed the decision through multiple levels of the federal court system, arguing that the trial judge improperly admitted evidence that unfairly influenced the jury. However, a federal appeals court upheld the verdict, finding no significant legal errors that justified a new trial.

The final attempt to overturn the judgment ended when the US Supreme Court declined to review the case, effectively leaving the jury's decision intact.

Carroll Says It's Time for Trump to Pay

Following the Supreme Court's decision, Carroll's legal team filed new court documents requesting that a judge order Trump to pay the damages immediately.

According to the filing, Carroll had previously agreed to multiple requests from Trump's legal team to postpone payment while appeals were being considered. Now that those appeals have been rejected, her attorneys argue there is no reason for further delays.

In their filing, the lawyers stated that after years of litigation across every level of the federal judiciary, the legal process has reached its conclusion.

They also noted that Trump had recently sought another delay while asking the Supreme Court to hear his case, but since that request has now been denied, they believe payment should proceed without further obstacles.

The Allegations Behind the Lawsuit

Carroll, a former magazine columnist, alleged that Trump sexually assaulted her inside a dressing room at the luxury Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan during the mid-1990s.

Trump has consistently denied the accusation, maintaining that the alleged incident never occurred.

The lawsuit also focused on statements Trump made years later on Truth Social, where he described Carroll's allegations as fabricated. Those public comments formed the basis of the defamation claim that accompanied the sexual abuse allegations in the civil trial.

It is important to note that this was a civil case, not a criminal prosecution. The jury found Trump liable under the civil standard of proof, which differs from the higher burden required in criminal courts.

Trump's Response Remains Unchanged

Despite the Supreme Court's refusal to hear his appeal, Trump continues to reject the verdict.

Shortly after the court's decision, he posted on Truth Social, again describing the case as fraudulent and criticizing what he called the "weaponization" of the legal system.

Trump also repeated his claim that the lawsuit was politically motivated and stated that he would continue fighting what he considers unfair legal actions against him.

Carroll's attorneys have since included Trump's latest social media statements in their newest court filing, arguing that the litigation should now come to an end.

Another Carroll Case Still Ongoing

The $5 million judgment is not the only legal case involving Trump and Carroll.

In a separate civil trial concluded in 2024, another jury found Trump liable for additional defamatory statements made about Carroll and awarded her nearly $84 million in damages.

Trump has also challenged that verdict through the appeals process, but a federal appeals panel previously rejected one of his attempts to overturn the decision. Further legal proceedings in that separate case remain ongoing.

What Happens Next?

With the Supreme Court declining to intervene, Carroll's lawyers are now asking the trial court to formally require Trump to satisfy the judgment.

Unless another legal avenue becomes available, attention will likely shift from appeals to enforcement of the financial award.

The case has remained one of the most closely watched civil legal disputes involving a sitting US president, attracting widespread public attention because of its legal, political, and historical significance.

For Carroll, the latest Supreme Court decision represents another major legal victory. For Trump, it adds to the list of ongoing legal challenges that continue alongside his political career.

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