Trump Asks Supreme Court to Overturn $83M Carroll Verdict
Presidential Immunity Defense
Cyberzenhub.com – Trump asks Supreme Court to overturn the $83 million judgment against E. Jean Carroll, arguing that presidential immunity protects his public statements. The former president filed a formal petition requesting the nation’s highest court reverse the verdict, which a federal jury originally awarded to the author after finding Trump defamed her following his rejection of sexual assault allegations.
According to the petition, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals “engaged in procedural contortions to avoid addressing Presidential immunity.” Trump contends that declarations made during his presidency should shield him from civil liability, criticizing the lower court for allegedly failing to recognize this protective legal principle.
Legal Arguments and Court History
Trump’s latest appeal draws on the Supreme Court’s 2024 presidential immunity ruling, which created broad protections for “official acts.” The former president maintains that his comments about Carroll’s claims were delivered in his official capacity as head of state, warranting immunity from civil lawsuits.
However, Judge Denny Chin noted in an April opinion that “Presidential immunity was not raised for the first three years of this case,” highlighting what the court viewed as a procedural delay. The circuit court also rejected Trump’s request to substitute the U.S. government as defendant, ruling the motion came too late in proceedings.
Additionally, Trump’s petition seeks permission for the United States to replace him as the defendant. The document argues that “accusations bearing on the President’s fitness for office are unquestionably matters of public concern,” and that presidential responses to media inquiries are “plainly official.” The petition concludes that “This Court should say so,” urging justices to formally endorse this interpretation.
Case Timeline and Damages
The legal dispute spans multiple trials. A 2023 federal jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in a Manhattan department store dressing room during the 1990s. The same jury determined he defamed her in a 2022 social media post, where he dismissed allegations as “a Hoax and a lie.”
A separate 2024 trial resulted in the $83 million damages award for defamation in 2019 when Trump publicly denied Carroll’s sexual abuse claims. Last month, the Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal of a different verdict holding him liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, awarding her $5 million in damages with no dissents among the justices.
According to Carroll’s lawyers, the $5 million award, along with accrued interest, has since been transferred into her bank account.
What This Means for Carroll
Carroll’s legal representatives have declined to comment on Trump’s most recent petition while the Supreme Court considers whether to grant review. The case remains one of the most significant civil judgments against a former president, with multiple layers of legal arguments still being resolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Trump asking the Supreme Court to do?
Trump asks Supreme Court to overturn the $83 million judgment against E. Jean Carroll, claiming presidential immunity protects his public statements about her allegations.
Why did the Second Circuit reject Trump’s substitution request?
Judge Chin ruled that Trump filed his motion to substitute the U.S. government as defendant too late—fifteen months after trial and judgment entry.
How much has Carroll received so far?
Carroll has received $5 million plus accrued interest from the earlier Supreme Court-affirmed verdict, with the $83 million judgment still under appeal.
What is presidential immunity in this context?
Trump argues that statements made during his presidency as head of state should be protected from civil lawsuits, following the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling on official acts.
