The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from President Donald Trump in the long-running E. Jean Carroll civil case, effectively letting a $5 million jury verdict against him stand. The unsigned order, issued without explanation, noted only that the request for rehearing had been denied, with no indication of any dissenting votes from the justices.
The decision brings another chapter in the legal saga to a close, though it does not address the separate $83.3 million judgment Carroll also won against Trump. Both verdicts have been upheld by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and Trump’s legal team had sought Supreme Court review of the smaller award, which stemmed from a May 2023 jury finding that Trump sexually abused Carroll and defamed her when he denied her allegations in October 2022.
Case Background
The Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene means the $5 million award from the 2023 trial stands. That verdict came from a federal jury that found Trump liable for both sexual abuse and defamation. A separate jury in January 2024 awarded Carroll $83.3 million in a related defamation case, which concerned statements Trump made after the first verdict. The Second Circuit upheld both judgments.
Legal observers noted the absence of any noted dissents from the court’s conservative justices, including Trump appointees and longtime conservatives Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. The lack of a public dissent suggests the appeal did not attract significant interest on the bench.
Critics Question Evidence
Critics of the verdict, including some commentators, have long argued that Carroll’s case was built on shaky evidence. They point to the fact that Carroll offered no corroborating witnesses or physical evidence, and that she could not provide a specific date for the alleged assault. Additionally, the dress Carroll said she wore during the claimed incident was not yet in production at the time she said the assault occurred. The case was brought under a New York law that temporarily extended the statute of limitations for certain sexual offense claims, a measure that critics say was designed specifically to target Trump.
Supporters of Trump have also highlighted what they describe as inconsistencies in Carroll’s story and behavior, questioning her credibility as a witness. Despite those concerns, both juries found in her favor, and appellate courts have upheld the results.
Broader Implications
The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the appeal is likely to fuel ongoing debates about the fairness of the judicial system, particularly in cases involving politically charged figures. Some conservatives argue that the legal system has been weaponized against Republican politicians, pointing to the Carroll case as an example of a double standard. They note that prominent Democrats who have faced similar accusations have not been held to the same legal consequences.
Others, however, view the verdicts as a straightforward application of the law, noting that the juries heard extensive evidence and reached their conclusions after deliberation. Legal experts say the Supreme Court’s denial of certiorari is not a ruling on the merits but simply a decision not to review the lower court’s decision.
Trump has consistently denied the allegations and has vowed to continue fighting the verdicts through other legal avenues. His legal team has not indicated whether it will pursue further appeals in the larger $83.3 million case.
As the legal battle continues, the Supreme Court’s decision marks a significant setback for Trump, but it is unlikely to be the final word in the ongoing legal and political battle over Carroll’s accusations.
Source: pjmedia.com — https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/08/17/supreme-court-gives-trump-the-finger-on-abuse-verdict-appeal-n4956229
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