Story perspectives

Trump Seeks Supreme Court Overturn of $83.3 M Carroll Judgment

7/29/2026

Summary

Trump Seeks Immunity

U.S. President Donald Trump asked Supreme Court to overturn the $83.3 million judgment in E. Jean Carroll’s case.
His lawyers argue the statements are communications, seeking immunity for $65 million and $18.3 million damages.
The Second Circuit upheld judgment after rejecting immunity in September and declining rehearing in April.
The Supreme Court, which refused a $5 million Carroll verdict, will hear the petition in September and its ruling will either keep judgment or decide immunity.

Summary

Carroll Receives $5M

Carroll received $5 million plus $600,000 interest from a court-held fund where U.S. President Donald Trump deposited money to secure the verdict.
The payment arrived two weeks before U.S. President Donald Trump and the DOJ filed Supreme Court petitions to overturn the $83.3 million award.
The escrow demonstrates that the court can lock in compensation for U.S. President Donald Trump while appeals continue.

History

Historical Context

In 1994 Paula Jones sued President Bill Clinton for alleged harassment; the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous May 27 1997 decision in Clinton v. Jones rejected presidential immunity and allowed the civil case to proceed, leading to an $850,000 settlement in 1998. Trump’s lawyers now invoke that precedent to block an $83.3 million defamation judgment, testing the same limits on executive accountability.

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Trump Seeks Immunity

U.S. President Donald Trump asked Supreme Court to overturn the $83.3 million judgment in E. Jean Carroll’s case.
His lawyers argue the statements are communications, seeking immunity for $65 million and $18.3 million damages.
The Second Circuit upheld judgment after rejecting immunity in September and declining rehearing in April.
The Supreme Court, which refused a $5 million Carroll verdict, will hear the petition in September and its ruling will either keep judgment or decide immunity.

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