Trump Seeks to Recover $5.6 Million From E. Jean Carroll After Complying With Sexual Abuse and Defamation Judgment

Less than two weeks after completing a court-ordered payment of $5.6 million, U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a new legal effort by demanding that E. Jean Carroll return the full amount. His legal team has filed an emergency injunction with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, seeking to suspend enforcement of the judgment and require Carroll to repay the money while additional legal proceedings continue.

The latest move follows a July 8 ruling by Judge Lewis Kaplan, who ordered the release of funds from a court-managed escrow account to Carroll. The payment came nearly three years after a federal jury found Trump civilly liable in a lawsuit involving sexual abuse and defamation brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.

In his ruling, Judge Kaplan criticized Trump for repeatedly delaying enforcement of the judgment over the years. He wrote: “Defendant has been stalling this case for years. A jury unanimously concluded that he sexually abused and defamed plaintiff and awarded her damages accordingly. The judgment on that verdict has been upheld on appeal.”

Judge Kaplan also emphasized that the U.S. Supreme Court, including the three justices appointed by Trump himself, declined to review the case “without dissent.” According to the judge, after every avenue of appeal had been exhausted, “it is time” for the president to satisfy the judgment in full.

Trump’s legal team, however, has refused to accept the outcome. In its filing before the appeals court, the attorneys requested an emergency injunction requiring Carroll to return the $5.6 million while they continue pursuing further legal remedies. The request marks Trump’s latest attempt to overturn or delay enforcement of the civil judgment after years of litigation.

Carroll’s attorneys strongly opposed the motion. In court filings submitted on July 21, they argued that Trump’s request is “procedurally improper, substantively meritless, and yet another example of Defendant’s pattern of ‘slow-roll[ing] his defenses, asserting or inventing a new one each time his prior effort to delay the case fails.’”

They further stated: “But rather than accept the reality that he had lost, [Trump] has engaged in a series of maneuvers trying desperately to forestall payment.”

The lawsuit stems from Carroll’s allegation that Trump sexually assaulted her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan during the mid-1990s. Carroll claimed Trump forced her against the wall of the dressing room, pinned her with his shoulder, and raped her. Trump has consistently denied all of the allegations, insisting the incident never occurred.

In 2023, a federal jury in New York found Trump civilly liable for sexually abusing Carroll and for defaming her through statements he made after she publicly accused him. Although the jury did not find Trump liable for rape under New York’s legal definition, it concluded that he had sexually abused Carroll and ordered him to pay damages.

Following the verdict, Trump pursued multiple appeals, including a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case. The nation’s highest court ultimately declined to hear the appeal, leaving the lower court rulings in place.

After the Supreme Court rejected his petition, Trump posted a message on Truth Social, once again denying the allegations. He wrote: “Surprisingly, the Supreme Court declined to ‘review’ a Fake Case brought against me by a woman I never met.”

He continued: “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.” Trump concluded the post by declaring: “This Injustice cannot be allowed to stand!”

Aaron Harison, a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team, also defended the president’s position, saying “the American people stand with President Trump as they demand an immediate end to all of the witch hunts, including the Democrat-funded travesty of the Carroll hoaxes.”

E. Jean Carroll is one of America’s best-known journalists and writers. Born in 1943, she built a distinguished career as a columnist, author, and relationship advice expert. For more than two decades, she wrote the popular “Ask E. Jean” advice column for Elle magazine, becoming one of the country’s most recognizable lifestyle journalists.

In addition to her journalism career, Carroll has published several books focusing on women, relationships, and personal experiences. In 2019, she released her memoir, What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal, in which she publicly accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her decades earlier. The memoir attracted widespread media attention and ultimately led to the years-long legal battle between the two.

For Donald Trump, the Carroll case represents only one of several high-profile legal battles he has faced in recent years. Born in 1946, Trump established his reputation in the real estate industry before entering politics and serving as the 45th President of the United States. He later returned to the White House after winning the 2024 presidential election. Alongside his political career, he has remained involved in numerous legal disputes, including cases related to business practices, elections, financial matters, and civil litigation.

In his personal life, Trump has been married three times—to Ivana Trump, Marla Maples, and First Lady Melania Trump. He is the father of five children and grandfather to several grandchildren. His family has remained under intense public scrutiny throughout his political career, particularly during election campaigns and major court proceedings.

Trump’s latest emergency request is now pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. If the court denies the motion, E. Jean Carroll will retain the compensation awarded under the existing judgment. If the request is granted, the years-long legal battle between the two could enter yet another chapter.