Full Breakdown
Trump Pays $5.6 Million to E. Jean Carroll After Supreme Court Rejects Appeal
7/15/2026, 1:04:02 AM
Core Event
On July 9, 2026 a federal judge ordered former President Donald Trump to transfer $5,625,005.48—the $5 million jury award plus accrued interest—to the legal team of writer E. Jean Carroll. The payment follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 29 decision declining to hear Trump’s petition to rehear the case, clearing the way for Judge Lewis Kaplan to release the funds that had been held in escrow since the 2023 verdict.
Background & Context
Carroll, an 82-year-old former magazine columnist, publicly accused Trump in 2019 of forcibly inserting his fingers into her while she was in a Manhattan Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s. She sued for sexual abuse, defamation and rape. In 2023 a unanimous nine-person New York jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding $5 million in damages; the rape claim was rejected. Trump did not attend the trial and repeatedly denied the allegations. He appealed the judgment, and his legal team sought a stay of payment pending a possible Supreme Court rehearing, which the Court refused. A separate 2024 jury later awarded Carroll $83 million for additional defamatory statements.
Key Figures & Groups
- E. Jean Carroll – Plaintiff, former Elle columnist, now 82.
- Donald Trump – Defendant, former U.S. President.
- Roberta Kaplan – Attorney for Carroll, former federal prosecutor.
- Judge Lewis A. Kaplan – U.S. District Judge who entered the judgment and ordered payment.
- Trump legal team – Filed multiple motions to block or stay the disbursement.
Data & Statistics
- Jury award: $5 million in damages.
- Interest accrued: roughly $800,000, bringing the total to $5.62 million.
- Jury composition: six men and three women; deliberated under three hours.
- Earlier related judgment: $83.3 million for defamation in a 2024 trial.
Official Statements & Responses
Roberta Kaplan issued a statement confirming the receipt of the payment and reiterating the 2023 verdict. Carroll celebrated the outcome on her Substack blog, describing it as a victory for all women. Trump’s campaign posted a message vowing to continue fighting what it called “weaponization and lawfare.” His attorneys have repeatedly asked appellate courts to intervene, seeking an injunction to return the funds to the escrow account while further appeals proceed.
Criticism & Opposition
Trump’s lawyers have labeled the case a “hoax” and a “witch hunt,” arguing that the judgment is politically motivated. They filed an emergency motion for a stay, which the federal appeals court denied. The legal team also contended that the Supreme Court should reconsider its refusal to hear the appeal, though no such rehearing was granted.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ slightly on the exact amount transferred: some cite $5.62 million, others $5.6 million, and a few list $5,625,005.48. All agree the figure includes the original $5 million award plus interest. No public record details how Carroll intends to allocate the funds beyond placing them in an interest-bearing account.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Today, we are pleased to report that she has received the damages payment the jury awarded her as a result of that verdict.” — Roberta Kaplan, attorney for E. Jean Carroll
- “THIS WIN IS FOR EVERY WOMAN IN THE WORLD!” — E. Jean Carroll, Substack blog
- “I will continue the fight against this Weaponization and Lawfare Case against me, including the ridiculous claim of Defamation, with all of my power and strength,” — Donald Trump, social-media post
- “This woman is not my type!” — Donald Trump, 2022 Truth Social post
- “fake story.” — Donald Trump, CNN town hall appearance
- “Witch Hunt” — Trump legal representative, filing to the appeals court
What’s Next
Trump’s attorneys have filed a petition to the Supreme Court seeking review of the $83 million defamation judgment; the brief is due at the end of July 2026. The Court’s decision on that matter will determine whether additional damages are ultimately paid to Carroll.
