Trump Appeals to Supreme Court in E. Jean Carroll Case
Overview of the Case
On November 10, 2025, former President Donald Trump formally requested that the Supreme Court review a New York civil jury’s 2023 verdict which found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming author E. Jean Carroll. Trump is seeking to overturn a $5 million award to Carroll, alleging that her accusations are “implausible” and that testimony presented during the trial strained “credulity past the breaking point.” This appeal follows two years of unsuccessful attempts to secure a retrial in the federal court.
Previous Legal Proceedings
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals denied Trump’s initial appeal in December 2024 and subsequently rejected his request for an en banc review in June 2025, making the Supreme Court the final avenue for Trump to contest the jury’s unanimous finding. The jury determined, based on a preponderance of evidence, that Trump sexually abused Carroll during an encounter in a New York City department store in the mid-1990s. Although the jury did not find him liable for rape, Judge Lewis Kaplan noted that their determination of sexual abuse implied that Trump had digitally raped Carroll.
Trump contends that Judge Kaplan made errors in several evidentiary rulings that he claims adversely impacted his position before the jury. His appeal characterizes Carroll’s claims as “facially implausible” and politically motivated.
Response from Legal Teams
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team linked Carroll’s case to other legal challenges faced by Trump, referring to them as “Witch Hunts” funded by Democrats. “The American People stand with President Trump as they demand an immediate end to all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded travesty of the Carroll Hoaxes,” the spokesperson stated.
Attorney representatives for Carroll have not provided immediate comments regarding Trump’s recent appeal. It is noteworthy that Carroll’s legal efforts have received backing from a nonprofit associated with Democratic donor Reid Hoffman.
Background on E. Jean Carroll’s Allegations
Carroll’s allegations against Trump first came to light in 2019 when she published an excerpt from her book in New York Magazine. Since that time, Trump has consistently denied all allegations made by Carroll. Earlier in January 2024, a separate federal jury found Trump liable for making defamatory remarks about Carroll, resulting in a combined financial judgment of over $88 million against him across both cases.
As Trump prepares for his Supreme Court challenge, the outcome may have substantial implications not only for his legal standing but also for how similar cases are adjudicated in the future.