Trump And DOJ Ask Supreme Court To Overturn $83 Million E. Jean Carroll Verdict
President Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to overturn the $83.3 million defamation judgment awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll.
Trump's legal team filed the appeal alongside the US Department of Justice, arguing that statements he made while serving as president should be protected under presidential immunity and the Westfall Act, which shields federal employees from personal liability for actions taken within the scope of their official duties.
The case stems from comments Trump made in 2019, when he denied Carroll's allegation that he sexually assaulted her in a New York department store during the mid 1990s. Carroll sued for defamation, arguing that Trump's public statements damaged her reputation.
In January 2024, a federal jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages, including compensation for emotional harm, reputational damage, and punitive damages. A federal appeals court later upheld the verdict, prompting Trump to seek review by the Supreme Court.
Trump's lawyers argue that the lower courts failed to properly consider the constitutional protections available to a sitting president when responding to questions about matters of public concern. They also contend that the damages awarded were excessive and legally unprecedented.
Separately, the Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to substitute the United States government as the defendant under the Westfall Act. If accepted, that move could effectively nullify the defamation judgment because the federal government cannot be sued for defamation under existing law.
Carroll's legal team has not commented publicly on the latest Supreme Court filing. The payment of the $83.3 million judgment remains on hold while the appeal process continues.
The Supreme Court will now decide whether to hear the case. If it declines to review the appeal, the lower court's ruling is expected to remain in force, bringing one of the most closely watched civil cases involving a sitting US president closer to its conclusion.
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