Judge Orders Release Of $5.8 Million To E. Jean Carroll

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered the release of $5.8 million from an escrow account to writer E. Jean Carroll on Wednesday. This decision follows the Supreme Court's refusal to hear Donald Trump's appeal concerning a jury's verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll. The funds were placed in escrow pending the outcome of Trump's legal challenges.

The original judgment against Trump, totaling $5 million for sexual abuse and $3 million for defamation, was awarded in May 2023 by a federal jury in New York. Trump had sought to overturn this verdict, arguing various legal points, including that the jury's findings were inconsistent and that the damages awarded were excessive. His legal team pursued an appeal through the federal court system, culminating in the Supreme Court's decision to not review the case.

Carroll, a writer and columnist, first accused Trump of sexual assault in a 2019 New York Times article, alleging the assault occurred in the mid-1990s in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room. Trump has consistently denied all allegations made by Carroll. The jury's finding of sexual abuse was based on a "preponderance of the evidence" standard, which is a lower burden of proof than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard used in criminal cases. The defamation finding stemmed from Trump's public statements denying the allegations.

With the Supreme Court's denial of certiorari, Trump's final avenue for appeal on this specific judgment has been exhausted. The release of the $5.8 million to Carroll signifies the conclusion of this phase of the legal proceedings, allowing the awarded sum to be transferred to the plaintiff. The case has been a prominent legal battle, drawing significant media attention and highlighting issues of sexual misconduct allegations against public figures and the legal recourse available to accusers.