Manhattan Judge Forces Trump to Surrender $5.8 Million to E. Jean Carroll Amid Politicized Legal Onslaught
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A federal judge has ordered the release of $5.8 million from Donald Trump’s escrow account to E. Jean Carroll, following the Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene in what critics call a politically motivated case.
On July 1, a Manhattan federal judge ordered that over $5 million, now grown to $5.8 million with interest, be handed over from a court-controlled account belonging to former President Donald Trump to E. Jean Carroll. This stems from a 2023 jury verdict that controversially found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation—a case many see as part of an ongoing campaign to target the former president.
The decision comes after the U.S. Supreme Court declined on June 29 to review Trump’s appeal, refusing to provide relief from what Trump’s supporters view as a deeply flawed process. Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, wasted no time in pushing for immediate payment, claiming the four-year litigation should end, despite ongoing legal questions.
“He remarkably seeks to further delay Carroll’s collection of the judgment awarded to her in 2023,” Kaplan argued, as Trump’s team continued to fight for due process.
Trump’s legal team filed a brief on July 7 insisting the escrow agreement remain in place until all appeals are exhausted, warning that releasing the funds now could cause irreversible loss if a higher court later rules in Trump’s favor.
Legal analysts acknowledged that the odds of a successful stay or rehearing are low, but Trump’s defenders argue that the courts’ reluctance to intervene reflects a broader bias against him.
The CRIS system escrow was established in June 2023 to hold the judgment while appeals continued. Carroll’s team claims any funds she receives will be donated to charity, making it nearly impossible for Trump to recover the money if he ultimately prevails.
With this order, the judge has paved the way for Carroll to collect the judgment, closing another chapter in what many see as a relentless legal assault on Trump by his political opponents.