US President Donald Trump is once again attempting to delay paying a substantial damages sum to magazine columnist E Jean Carroll, who was awarded £4 million in compensation following a jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing her in 1996 and defaming her in 2019. The latest development in the long-running case comes just days after the US Supreme Court declined to hear Trump's appeal, leaving the original judgment intact.
The outstanding amount, including accrued interest, now totals nearly £4.6 million, having been deposited into an escrow fund pending a resolution. However, Trump's lawyers are now seeking a further delay in releasing these funds, citing a change in lead counsel as the reason for their request. Attorney Josh Halpern has been appointed to replace Justin Smith, who recently took up a position as a federal judge – a nomination made by Trump himself.
In a filing with the court, Trump's attorneys proposed extending the deadline for responding to Carroll's request for payment until July 14, arguing that she faces no risk of material harm from this delay. They pointed out that the judgment is secured by funds held by the court, including sufficient interest to cover any post-judgment interest that may accrue during the requested extension.
However, Carroll's attorney Roberta Kaplan dismissed the request as a mere attempt to "buy more time", highlighting that Smith's nomination to the court of appeals occurred over five months ago. This, she suggested, gave Trump ample opportunity to secure new legal representation and failed to act diligently in doing so until at least February.
Last week, Carroll's team formally asked the court to compel Trump to pay the damages assessed by the jury. Trump has consistently denied Carroll's claims, labelling them as politically and financially motivated. Following the Supreme Court's decision, he vowed to continue fighting what he termed a "Weaponisation and Lawfare Case".
This latest move hints at potential future legal strategies. Kaplan's filing suggests that Trump plans to appeal a separate £83 million defamation judgment in favour of Carroll to the Supreme Court, while also seeking a rehearing on the initial case. The possibility of Trump filing an appeal that combines both awards – particularly the second, larger defamation award which relates to statements made during his presidency – raises questions about presidential immunity.
Source: US court filings