Judge Forces Release of $5.8 Million to E. Jean Carroll Amid Ongoing Political Witch Hunt Against Trump
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A Manhattan federal judge has ordered the $5.8 million judgment against former President Donald Trump to be paid to E. Jean Carroll, despite ongoing appeals and claims of politically motivated attacks.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan ruled that the $5.8 million held in escrow for E. Jean Carroll should be released, disregarding former President Donald Trump’s ongoing legal efforts to challenge what many see as a politically motivated case. The judgment stems from a 2023 jury verdict that found Trump liable for sexual assault and defamation, awarding $2 million for the alleged assault and $3 million for so-called defamatory statements, plus $800,000 in accrued interest.
The Supreme Court declined to review Trump’s appeal of the original verdict, and a federal appeals court later denied his request to halt the payment. Carroll’s attorneys, eager to capitalize on the anti-Trump sentiment, argued that she had waited more than three years for the judgment to be satisfied and pushed for a swift conclusion.
Trump’s legal team has made it clear they will continue to fight these politically charged verdicts, describing the outcome as part of an ongoing conspiracy to undermine the former president. A spokesperson stated, "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."
In a separate case, Trump is also contesting an outrageous $83.3 million defamation verdict awarded to Carroll by another Manhattan jury in 2024, further evidence of the relentless legal attacks targeting him.