In brief
In a decisive moment following a civil verdict, Donald Trump has paid more than $5.6 million to writer E Jean Carroll for claims of sexual abuse and defamation. The payment, announced by Carroll’s lawyers, finalizes a protracted legal battle that began in 2018 and spanned several appeals. Trump had delayed the payout while seeking Supreme Court review of the judgment, but a judge imposed the payment shortly before it was made. Carroll, a former magazine columnist aged 82, had previously alleged Trump’s assault in a 1990s incident and his hostile denial in 2022. The funds were held in a court‑controlled account before being released to Carroll as directed by the court.
On Tuesday, the legal team for E Jean Carroll announced that former U.S. President Donald Trump has paid the court‑ordered damages of more than $5.6 million, including accrued interest, in a civil case that found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation.
"Today, we are pleased to report that she has received the damages payment the jury awarded her as a result of that verdict," lawyer Roberta Kaplan said in a brief statement.
Trump had sought to delay the payment while asking the Supreme Court to reconsider a recent denial of his appeal. A judge, however, ordered the release of the funds last week, and the payment was made from a court‑controlled account that had held the money since the verdict.
The lawsuit stems from Carroll’s 1990s claim that Trump had assaulted her inside a Bergdorf Goodman department‑store dressing room in Manhattan and later defrauded her by publicly denying her story. In a 2022 Truth Social post, Trump denied the allegations, calling them false.
In 2023, a New York jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. Trump denied the allegations, but the court’s decision was upheld in the appeals process, ultimately resulting in the settlement.
Carroll, a former magazine columnist now 82 years old, has maintained her case against Trump through years of legal negotiation and appeals. The payment completes the civil proceedings that followed her initial suit in 2018.
For visual context, Carroll is seen leaving court at the time of this payment. The image by Getty Icons confirms the finality of the verdict and its impact on her.
