Summary (tl;dr)

The U.S. Supreme Court has, for the second time, rejected former President Donald Trump's appeal to overturn a 2023 jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, thereby finalizing the $5 million judgment against him.

Essential Background

E. Jean Carroll, a former advice columnist for Elle magazine, first publicly accused Donald Trump in 2019 of sexually assaulting her in a New York City department store in the mid-1990s. Trump vehemently denied the allegations, making disparaging remarks about Carroll. Carroll subsequently filed two separate lawsuits against Trump. The first, initiated under New York's Adult Survivors Act in 2022, led to a 2023 jury verdict finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation and awarding Carroll approximately $5 million in damages. A second defamation lawsuit, concerning statements Trump made in 2019 while president, resulted in a separate federal jury in 2024 ordering Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million.

The Full Story

On Monday, August 17, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an unsigned order denying President Donald Trump's request for a rehearing regarding his appeal of the 2023 civil judgment in favor of E. Jean Carroll. This decision marks the second time the Supreme Court has declined to hear Trump's appeal in this specific case, having previously rejected a similar petition in June. The Supreme Court's latest refusal without comment leaves intact the $5 million civil judgment, which Trump had already deposited into a court-held account. Carroll's legal team confirmed in July that the funds, totaling about $5.6 million with interest, had been disbursed to her. While this particular case is now finalized, Trump is still appealing the separate $83.3 million defamation verdict to the Supreme Court, with that appeal raising questions of presidential immunity for statements made while in office.

Why It Matters

The Supreme Court's decision to deny a rehearing in the E. Jean Carroll case carries significant weight as it definitively closes Trump's avenues for appealing the $5 million judgment for sexual abuse and defamation. This final ruling reinforces the previous jury findings and appellate court decisions, marking a conclusive legal victory for E. Jean Carroll in this specific lawsuit. The outcome underscores the legal system's capacity to hold powerful figures accountable. Meanwhile, the ongoing appeal concerning the $83.3 million defamation verdict, which involves arguments about presidential immunity, highlights continuing legal debates with potential implications for the powers and liabilities of a sitting or former president.

Geographic Location

• Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States (rejection of appeal and rehearing request)
• Manhattan federal courthouse, New York City, New York County, New York, United States (location of 2023 and 2024 jury trials and related legal proceedings)
• Bergdorf Goodman, New York City, New York County, New York, United States (location of alleged sexual assault in the mid-1990s)