Desitdown News(Trump appeals $83.3m E Jean Carroll civil verdict to US Supreme Court)desitdownnews [NAD01EjUzW4]
WASHINGTON, D.C., United States — July 30, 2026 President Donald Trump has asked the United States Supreme Court to overturn the $83.3 million defamation judgment awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll, escalating a years-long legal battle that has become one of the most closely watched civil cases involving a sitting U.S. president. The appeal follows a federal appeals court's decision to uphold the jury's verdict, prompting Trump's legal team to seek review by the nation's highest court. The case stems from statements Trump made in 2019 while serving as president, after Carroll publicly accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store during the mid-1990s. Trump repeatedly denied the allegation, saying he did not know Carroll and dismissing her claims as fabricated. In January 2024, a New York jury found that those statements defamed Carroll and awarded her $83.3 million in damages, including compensation for reputational harm, emotional distress and punitive damages. In the latest appeal, Trump's lawyers argue that his remarks were made in his official capacity as president and should therefore be protected by presidential immunity. They contend that lower courts improperly refused to consider this defence and warned that allowing the verdict to stand could expose future presidents to personal civil liability for statements made while in office. The filing also challenges the size of the damages award as excessive and legally unjustified. The U.S. Department of Justice has separately filed its own petition supporting Trump's position. It argues that under the Westfall Act, the federal government should be substituted as the defendant because Trump's comments were allegedly made within the scope of his official duties. If accepted, that move could significantly alter or potentially nullify the defamation judgment. Carroll's legal team has not publicly commented on the latest Supreme Court filing. The justices are expected to decide in the coming months whether to hear the case. If the court declines review, the $83.3 million judgment will remain in effect, marking another major legal setback for Trump in the long-running litigation. #Desitdown #News #trump #appeals #$83.3m #E #Jean #Carroll #civil #verdict #US #Supreme Court)#