Full Breakdown
Trump Moves to Reclaim $5.6 Million Awarded to E. Jean Carroll
7/22/2026, 12:26:45 AM
Trump Seeks to Reverse $5.6 Million Payment to E. Jean Carroll
President Donald Trump’s legal team has filed an emergency injunction asking a court to require E. Jean Carroll to return the $5.6 million that was transferred from a court-controlled escrow account on July 9. The filing argues that the judgment is final and that the payment should remain with Carroll, while contending that Trump’s “un-clean hands” justify a reversal.
Legal Background and Recent Court Actions
A federal jury in 2023 found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million. In 2024 a separate jury ordered an additional $83 million in defamation damages. After the Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal, New York District Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered the escrow account to begin disbursing the initial award on July 8, leading to the July 9 payment of $5,625,005.48 to Carroll.
Government Involvement and Supreme Court Petition
The Department of Justice has joined Trump’s effort, filing a brief that seeks “good cause” to pause the case so the government can argue that Trump is immune from paying the judgment. The filing asks the Supreme Court to consider whether the president can replace himself with the United States as a defendant and thereby avoid the payment. The Court has not yet ruled on whether to hear the petition.
Carroll’s Legal Team’s Response
Carroll’s attorneys argue that Trump’s tactics amount to a “series of maneuvers” intended to delay payment and that the judgment is already enforceable. They note that Trump has previously labeled Carroll’s claims a “hoax” and “con-job” and that his recent Truth Social post on June 30 pledged to continue fighting what he described as a “Weaponization and Lawfare” case. Carroll’s lawyers maintain that Trump has exhausted all judicial avenues—losing at the jury, district court, Second Circuit panel, en banc panel, and the Supreme Court—and should not be allowed further delays.
The dispute centers on whether the escrowed funds can be reclaimed while higher-court review proceeds, a question that remains unresolved as the Supreme Court considers the petition.
