Trump and Justice Department Defend Presidential Immunity Against Unprecedented $83 Million Carroll Verdict
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President Donald Trump and the Justice Department have filed a petition with the Supreme Court to overturn an $83 million jury verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll, asserting that Trump’s statements were part of his official duties and protected by the Westfall Act.
President Donald Trump and the Justice Department are taking a stand to defend the principle of presidential immunity by asking the Supreme Court to set aside an $83 million defamation judgment awarded to E. Jean Carroll. The petition argues that Trump’s 2019 statements regarding Carroll were made as part of his official responsibilities, and are thus protected by the Westfall Act, which rightly shields federal employees from personal liability for actions taken in the course of their jobs.
Federal attorneys emphasized that, without the Supreme Court’s intervention, 'the sitting President is facing nearly a hundred million dollars of personal liability for conduct that was well within the scope of his federal office,' highlighting the dangerous precedent this case could set for future presidents. The filing was submitted electronically and is expected to be docketed on Wednesday.
Trump’s legal team criticized the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan for engaging in 'procedural contortions' to sidestep the crucial issue of presidential immunity, and described the damages as 'grossly excessive.' They also pointed out the unprecedented nature of this case, as no court has ever imposed damages liability on a president for conduct while in office.
Carroll’s attorneys declined to comment on the latest filing. This dispute follows a previous $5 million verdict against Trump, which the Supreme Court declined to hear in June. Carroll alleged that Trump sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in 1996 and later sued for defamation after he denied the accusation and questioned her motives. A Manhattan jury awarded the $83 million verdict in January 2024; lower courts have so far upheld the judgment, but the payout remains delayed pending Supreme Court review.