A federal appeals court in the United States has dismissed former President Donald Trump’s recent attempt to halt the disbursement of $5.8 million to writer E. Jean Carroll. This decision follows Carroll’s successful 2023 lawsuit against Trump for sexual abuse and defamation. The court upheld a previous order from a lower court that directed the release of funds, which had been retained in a court-controlled account while the case was under appeal.
The $5.8 million sum includes the original judgment amounting to $5 million, in addition to interest that has accrued over time. This ruling comes in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s decision not to review Trump’s appeal, effectively affirming the initial judgment. Judge Lewis Kaplan emphasized that the legal avenues have been fully explored and concluded, marking the time for the judgment to be fulfilled.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Trump has consistently denied the allegations brought against him by Carroll. He has also continued to dispute the legal interpretation surrounding the agreement that dictates the release of these funds.
This latest court decision marks a significant development in the legal battle between Trump and Carroll, as it signals the closure of the appeals process and the enforcement of the financial judgment initially ruled in Carroll’s favor. Despite the court’s decision, Trump remains steadfast in challenging the legal grounds of the ruling.