President Donald Trump has made a settlement payment of $5,625,005.48 to columnist E. Jean Carroll after a court ruling found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The payment was wired to Carroll last week, as mandated by federal Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who ordered Trump to pay the original $5 million awarded by a New York jury in 2023, along with accrued interest.
The jury had determined that Trump sexually assaulted Carroll in a New York City department store dressing room in 1996 and subsequently defamed her by denying the allegations in 2022. Trump has consistently denied the allegations and has sought to appeal the jury's decision.
Initially, Trump attempted to halt the payment, arguing that he was petitioning the Supreme Court to reconsider its refusal to hear his case. However, the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal in late June. Judge Kaplan reaffirmed the order for payment, which was confirmed by Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, who stated that the funds would be placed in an interest-bearing account until Trump's petition for rehearing is resolved.
Roberta Kaplan expressed satisfaction that Carroll has received the damages awarded by the jury. Trump's legal team has been contacted for comment, with a spokesman stating that many Americans support Trump and demand an end to what they describe as politically motivated investigations. Additionally, Trump is appealing another $83.3 million awarded to Carroll in a separate defamation trial.