Supreme Court Again Rebuffs Trump's Bid to Overturn E. Jean Carroll Verdict

The Supreme Court has once more declined former President Donald Trump's attempt to reverse a $5 million verdict in the E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse and defamation case. On Monday, August 17, 2026, the high court rejected Trump's request for a rehearing after previously declining to hear his appeal in June. This decision leaves intact the 2023 civil judgment where a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the writer.

The Supreme Court's order was issued without explanation, a typical practice for such denials. Following the initial refusal of his appeal in June, Trump had already paid the approximately $5.8 million judgment, which included interest. Roberta Kaplan, Carroll's attorney, expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court's latest decision, stating that the jury's verdict is now final and cannot be further challenged.

While this particular legal avenue for the $5 million verdict is now closed, Trump and the Justice Department are reportedly pursuing a separate appeal to the Supreme Court regarding a second verdict in Carroll's favor, totaling $83 million. That case stems from statements Trump made about Carroll in 2019 while he was president, with arguments centered on presidential immunity. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on that distinct appeal.