US Supreme Court rebuffs Trump's appeal in E Jean Carroll case
Al Jazeera
β’Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:59:52 +0000
π° What Happened
The US Supreme Court refused to hear Donald Trump's appeal in the E Jean Carroll case. That means the $5 million verdict against Trump still stands. A jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and then defaming her in 2023. Trump had asked the court to throw out the verdict, saying the trial was unfair.
Carroll is a former advice columnist for Elle magazine. She says Trump raped her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996. Trump has denied this and called her story a hoax. The case that led to the $5 million verdict was about his 2022 social media posts where he called her claims a con job.
The Supreme Court did not explain why it turned down the case. Lower courts had already upheld the jury's decision. Trump's lawyers argued that evidence of his past misconduct should not have been allowed in court. The justices decided not to hear those arguments.
π The Backstory
E Jean Carroll first came forward with her story in 2019. She wrote about the alleged assault in her memoir. Trump denied it happened and said she was lying for attention. Carroll then sued him for defamation.
Two separate juries have ruled against Trump in Carroll's cases. The first awarded her $5 million for sexual abuse and defamation. The second awarded her $83.3 million for defamation after Trump kept attacking her. Trump has appealed both verdicts.
The cases have become a major legal and political issue. Trump faces multiple criminal and civil cases while running for office. His supporters see the lawsuits as political attacks. His critics see them as justice for long-hidden misconduct. The Supreme Court's refusal to step in is a major defeat for Trump.
π― Why It Matters
This ruling means Trump must pay $5 million to a woman a jury said he sexually abused. It shows that not even a president can escape the consequences of his actions. For victims of assault, it sends a message that coming forward can lead to justice.
The US Supreme Court refused to hear Donald Trump's appeal in the E Jean Carroll case. That means the $5 million verdict against Trump still stands. A jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and then defaming her in 2023. Trump had asked the court to throw out the verdict, saying the trial was unfair.
Carroll is a former advice columnist for Elle magazine. She says Trump raped her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996. Trump has denied this and called her story a hoax. The case that led to the $5 million verdict was about his 2022 social media posts where he called her claims a con job.
The Supreme Court did not explain why it turned down the case. Lower courts had already upheld the jury's decision. Trump's lawyers argued that evidence of his past misconduct should not have been allowed in court. The justices decided not to hear those arguments.
E Jean Carroll first came forward with her story in 2019. She wrote about the alleged assault in her memoir. Trump denied it happened and said she was lying for attention. Carroll then sued him for defamation.
Two separate juries have ruled against Trump in Carroll's cases. The first awarded her $5 million for sexual abuse and defamation. The second awarded her $83.3 million for defamation after Trump kept attacking her. Trump has appealed both verdicts.
The cases have become a major legal and political issue. Trump faces multiple criminal and civil cases while running for office. His supporters see the lawsuits as political attacks. His critics see them as justice for long-hidden misconduct. The Supreme Court's refusal to step in is a major defeat for Trump.
This ruling means Trump must pay $5 million to a woman a jury said he sexually abused. It shows that not even a president can escape the consequences of his actions. For victims of assault, it sends a message that coming forward can lead to justice.