Trump Surprised by Supreme Court’s Decision on E. Jean Carroll Case

President Donald Trump expressed astonishment when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal regarding a $5 million judgment awarded to author E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of sexual abuse and defamation.

The Supreme Court chose not to review the case, thereby upholding the jury’s 2023 decision that found Trump liable for sexually assaulting Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room back in 1996. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. In another related case in 2024, Carroll was granted $83.3 million following a separate defamation lawsuit prompted by Trump’s remarks and attacks against her.

No explanation was given for the ruling issued on Monday.

Trump took to Truth Social, arguing that the Supreme Court’s refusal to consider his case was unbelievable. He said, “Amazingly, the Supreme Court refused to ‘review’ a sham lawsuit filed against me by a woman I’ve never met. (Decades-old celebrity photos alongside her husband don’t count!) I will continue to fight vigorously against this weapon and the legal proceedings against me, including the ridiculous claims of defamation.”

He further claimed that the lawsuit concerns the United States and its principles, insisting it shouldn’t set a precedent for other presidents or candidates.

Trump’s legal team contended that the trial judge made an error by permitting the infamous Access Hollywood tape into evidence, where Trump boasted about actions toward women, as well as by allowing testimony from other women who accused him of sexual assault, which he denies.

On the other hand, Carroll’s attorneys argued that this testimony was relevant due to the similarity in allegations and emphasized that Judge Lewis Kaplan’s rulings were consistent with legal precedents.

Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney, stated, “Today’s Supreme Court decision confirms once and for all the jury’s unanimous verdict that President Donald J. Trump sexually assaulted and defamed E. Jean Carroll. All attempts by President Trump to appeal this verdict have failed, and today’s decision ends his quest to evade responsibility.”

Trump’s team, however, released a statement claiming, “The American people support President Trump in calling for an immediate end to all witch hunts, including the Democratic-funded farce of the Carroll hoax. He will remain focused on his mission to Make America Great Again.”

In a separate comment, Trump accused the New York State Legislature of unfairly targeting him with a retroactive law. He remarked, “The state of New York enacted a law that went back decades and lasted only a moment to wrongfully ‘catch’ me. It is tailor-made, and we cannot let this injustice go unchecked!”