Summary (tl;dr)

The U.S. Supreme Court has finalized a $5 million verdict against Donald Trump in E. Jean Carroll's sexual abuse and defamation lawsuit by again refusing to hear his appeal, exhausting his options in that specific case.

Essential Background

E. Jean Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, publicly accused Donald Trump in 2019 of sexually abusing her in a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s. She subsequently filed two civil lawsuits against him, alleging sexual abuse and defamation for his denials and disparaging remarks. In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her with his 2022 statements, awarding her $5 million in damages. Separately, in 2024, a jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in a second defamation case based on comments Trump made in 2019 while he was president. Trump has consistently denied all allegations, calling them a "hoax" and claiming presidential immunity for statements made while in office.

The Full Story

On Monday, August 17, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court once again rejected Donald Trump's request to reconsider its decision not to review the $5 million verdict from the 2023 civil trial involving E. Jean Carroll. This denial, issued in an unsigned order without explanation, marks the second time the High Court has rebuffed Trump's efforts to overturn this particular judgment, effectively making the jury's unanimous verdict final. Carroll's attorney confirmed that the verdict is now final and cannot be challenged further. While Trump had already paid the $5 million judgment, along with accrued interest, in July after the Supreme Court's initial denial, this latest ruling ensures he has no further avenues of appeal for this specific case. However, Trump's appeal of the separate $83.3 million defamation verdict, where he argues presidential immunity for his 2019 comments, remains pending before the Supreme Court.

Why It Matters

This Supreme Court decision concludes one of the significant legal battles between E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump, solidifying the jury's findings of sexual abuse and defamation. The ruling reinforces the principle of legal accountability, even for former presidents, and ensures the awarded damages stand. The ongoing legal proceedings against Trump, including the still-pending appeal for the larger defamation judgment, continue to draw public and political attention, carrying implications for his future political endeavors.

Geographic Location

• Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States (location of alleged sexual abuse at Bergdorf Goodman department store)
• Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States (location of the civil federal jury trials)
• Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States (location of the U.S. Supreme Court which denied the appeal)