Full Breakdown
Appeals Court Denies Trump's Bid to Reopen $83 Million Carroll Defamation Verdict
4/30/2026, 5:03:38 AM
Court Rejects Trump's En Banc Appeal
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York ruled on April 29, 2026 that President Donald Trump’s request for an en banc rehearing of the $83 million defamation verdict in favor of writer E. Jean Carroll was denied. The panel held that Trump’s arguments—seeking to substitute the United States as the defendant and to invoke presidential immunity—were raised too late, fifteen months after the judgment. Judge Denny Chin wrote that “no other defendant would be permitted to move to substitute the United States in his place, fifteen months after trial and the entry of judgment against him,” and the court declined to convene all active judges to revisit the issue.
Background & Context
Carroll filed a defamation suit in 2019 after Trump repeatedly denied her allegation that he sexually assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing-room in the early 1990s. A 2023 jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and awarded $5 million. In January 2024 a second jury awarded $83 million for defamation, concluding that Trump’s statements—claiming he never met Carroll, calling her accusations a hoax, and saying she “wasn’t my type”—subjected her to harassment, death threats, and fear for her safety. Following the verdict, Trump pursued multiple appeals, including attempts to claim immunity based on a Supreme Court ruling that shields presidents from civil liability for official acts.
Key Figures & Groups
- Donald Trump – former president and defendant.
- E. Jean Carroll – writer and plaintiff.
- Roberta Kaplan – Carroll’s attorney.
- Judge Denny Chin – author of the appellate opinion.
- Judges Steven J. Menashi, Michael H. Park, Debra Ann Livingston – voted for an en banc hearing.
- White House spokesperson – issued a statement defending Trump.
- U.S. Department of Justice – referenced in the administration’s claim of official-act immunity.
Timeline
- 2019 – Carroll files defamation suit.
- May 2023 – Jury finds Trump liable for sexual abuse; awards $5 million.
- January 2024 – Jury awards $83 million for defamation.
- September 2024 – Panel denies en banc rehearing of the $5 million verdict.
- April 29 2026 – Second Circuit denies en banc rehearing of the $83 million verdict.
Data & Statistics
- Defamation award: $83 million (reported as $83.3 million in some outlets).
- Earlier award: $5 million.
- En banc vote: 5 judges against, 3 judges for rehearing.
Why It Matters / Impact
The decision underscores limits on presidential immunity in civil defamation actions and keeps the $83 million judgment in place pending possible Supreme Court review. A higher-court ruling could clarify the scope of immunity for statements made by a president about private individuals, influencing future defamation and abuse claims involving public officials.
Official Statements & Responses
Roberta Kaplan praised the appellate ruling, saying the decision moves the case toward final justice for Carroll. The White House spokesperson framed the litigation as a “radical weaponization of our justice system” and labeled Carroll’s claims “hoaxes.” Trump’s legal team announced plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, noting that the high court has not yet intervened.
Criticism & Opposition
Three appellate judges argued that the United States should be allowed to substitute for Trump because the alleged defamatory statements were made within the scope of his official duties. In a dissent, Judge Menashi called the proceedings “a manifest miscarriage of justice” and described the $83 million award as “grossly excessive.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise award amount—some cite $83 million, others $83.3 million. The exact composition of the en banc vote (five against, three for) is reported consistently, but details of the Supreme Court’s pending decision remain unavailable.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The fact of the matter is that no other defendant would be permitted to move to substitute the United States in his place, fifteen months after trial and the entry of judgment against him,” — Judge Denny Chin
- “The record showed that Trump made multiple statements over many years accusing Carroll of lying for political and financial gain, and suggesting that Carroll was too unattractive for Trump to have sexually assaulted her,” — Judge Denny Chin
- “We are pleased that the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has denied President Trump's petition for an en banc hearing in connection with the verdict from the second jury trial.” — Roberta Kaplan, Attorney for E. Jean Carroll
- “E. Jean Carroll is eager for this case, originally filed in 2019, to be over so that she can finally obtain justice,” — Roberta Kaplan
- “American People stand with President Trump in demanding an immediate end to the unlawful, radical weaponization of our justice system, and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts,” — White House spokesperson
- “Put together, these proceedings represent a manifest miscarriage of justice,” — Judge Steven J. Menashi
What’s Next
Trump’s team is expected to petition the U.S. Supreme Court for review of both the $83 million defamation judgment and the underlying immunity arguments. The high court’s decision will determine whether the appellate ruling stands or whether the case proceeds to a new trial.
