The legal battle between President Donald Trump and writer E. Jean Carroll has reached another pivotal moment after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal of the 2023 civil verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll. With the nation’s highest court refusing to intervene, Carroll’s legal team is now pressing for the immediate release of nearly $5.8 million, including accrued interest, arguing that Trump has exhausted every meaningful avenue to delay payment.

Trump’s attorneys, however, are seeking additional time in hopes of asking the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision—a legal maneuver that is rarely successful. The latest court filings have reignited public attention on one of the most consequential civil cases involving a sitting U.S. president, raising fresh questions about the limits of legal appeals, enforcement of court judgments, and Trump’s ongoing legal challenges.

E. Jean Carroll Seeks Immediate Release of $5.8 Million After Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Appeal

Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Trump’s Appeal

The latest chapter in the case began when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review Trump’s appeal of the May 2023 civil verdict. Without any recorded dissent from the justices, the Court allowed the lower court’s judgment to remain intact, effectively ending Trump’s standard appellate options.

The original lawsuit centered on Carroll’s allegations that Trump sexually abused her in the mid-1990s inside a dressing room at a Manhattan department store. After a highly publicized trial, a federal jury concluded that Trump was liable for sexual abuse and for defaming Carroll through statements denying her allegations.

The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

Because Trump deposited the judgment amount with the court while pursuing his appeal, the funds have remained in escrow. During that time, the money has accumulated nearly $800,000 in interest, increasing the total amount Carroll is now seeking to almost $5.8 million.

The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the appeal was widely viewed as a significant legal setback for Trump, leaving the jury’s verdict fully intact.

Carroll’s Attorneys Say “The End of the Line” Has Arrived

Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Carroll’s legal team wasted little time asking the federal court to release the money immediately.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan argued that Trump has already received numerous opportunities to postpone payment while pursuing appeals. According to the filing, Carroll cooperated with repeated requests for delays throughout the lengthy litigation, but that cooperation has now ended.

Kaplan argued that there is no longer any legal justification for withholding the funds.

She emphasized that previous courts consistently rejected Trump’s challenges and noted that the Supreme Court’s decision effectively concluded the ordinary appellate process.

The filing also referenced earlier observations from District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who had previously suggested that Trump’s litigation strategy reflected a strong desire to delay proceedings.

Carroll’s attorneys contend that allowing yet another postponement would unfairly reward continued procedural delays while preventing Carroll from collecting money that multiple courts have already determined she is legally owed.

The filing therefore asks the judge to order the immediate disbursement of the funds held by the court.

Trump’s Legal Team Wants More Time

Despite losing before the Supreme Court, Trump’s lawyers are pursuing one final procedural option.

They have asked Carroll’s attorneys to agree to another delay while Trump prepares a petition asking the Supreme Court to reconsider its refusal to hear the case.

Such requests, known as petitions for rehearing, are extraordinarily uncommon and are granted only in exceptional circumstances.

Nevertheless, Trump’s attorneys argue that additional time should be provided before releasing the funds.

According to court filings, Carroll rejected that request almost immediately.

Her lawyers pointed out that Judge Kaplan had previously ordered the funds to be released promptly if the Supreme Court denied Trump’s petition for certiorari—the formal request asking the Court to review the case.

Carroll’s legal team maintains that the Court has already spoken and that speculative possibilities of rehearing should not prevent enforcement of the judgment.

Trump’s representatives continue to insist that the case was wrongly decided.

A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team described the lawsuits as politically motivated and argued that the president would continue fighting what they characterize as politically driven legal actions.

Trump himself also continued publicly criticizing the verdict, posting on social media shortly after the Supreme Court’s decision and once again denying Carroll’s allegations.

What Happens Next—and Why the Case Still Matters

The immediate question now before the federal district court is whether Judge Lewis Kaplan will authorize the release of the nearly $5.8 million currently held in escrow.

The judge has instructed Trump’s attorneys to formally respond to Carroll’s request before making a decision.

Although Trump’s request for a Supreme Court rehearing remains technically possible, legal experts generally view such petitions as having extremely low chances of success.

If Judge Kaplan orders the money released, Carroll would finally receive compensation from the 2023 verdict after more than two years of continued litigation.

However, this would not end the legal relationship between the two parties.

Trump is still appealing a separate $83.3 million defamation judgment awarded to Carroll in another federal case involving different defamatory statements. That appeal remains active and could continue through the federal appellate courts for months.

Meanwhile, the $5 million judgment has also appeared as a liability in Trump’s latest federal financial disclosure report, underscoring its significance beyond the courtroom.

The broader dispute between Trump and Carroll has become one of the most closely watched civil legal battles in recent American history. It has tested questions about accountability for public figures, the limits of appellate review, and the enforcement of civil judgments against current and former presidents.

Whatever the court decides next regarding the release of the funds, the litigation continues to shape legal and political discussions across the United States.

To Conclude

The latest filings signal that the dispute between Donald Trump and E. Jean Carroll is entering its final stages in the 2023 civil case. After the Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal, Carroll’s attorneys argue that there is no longer any reason to postpone payment of the nearly $5.8 million owed under the judgment.

Trump’s legal team is attempting one last procedural effort by seeking additional time to request a Supreme Court rehearing, but such requests are rarely granted. Judge Lewis Kaplan must now determine whether the funds should be released immediately or whether another brief delay is warranted.

While this decision could finally bring closure to one chapter of the legal battle, the separate $83.3 million defamation case remains on appeal, ensuring that the broader legal conflict between Trump and Carroll is far from over. As the courts continue to rule, the case remains one of the most closely followed legal disputes involving a U.S. president in modern history.