Donald Trump is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review an $83.3 million jury verdict against him in a defamation suit brought by E. Jean Carroll. The petition argues that presidential immunity should invalidate the judgment. This appeal follows Trump’s prior payment of over $5 million from a 2023 lawsuit related to similar claims.
The request to the Supreme Court centers on a January 26th jury award following a second defamation trial initiated by Carroll, who accused Trump of defaming her while he was president. Trump's lawyers contend that he is shielded from liability due to his position as president at the time of the alleged defamatory statements. They assert that comments made in 2019, when Trump denied Carroll’s allegations of sexual assault and claimed she was lying, were made within the scope of his official duties.
The $83.3 million award includes $18.3 million for reputational damage and $65 million in punitive damages. While Trump previously paid over $5 million as a result of an earlier ruling in May 2023—stemming from a separate defamation claim—he is now seeking to overturn the larger sum awarded this year. The petition filed with the Supreme Court specifically targets the January 26th verdict.
No right-leaning outlets were found to have reported on the filing of the petition at the time of publication, with coverage concentrated in left and center sources.
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