Federal Judge Denies Trump's Bid to Delay $5.8M Payout to E. Jean Carroll
Federal Judge Denies Trump's Bid to Delay $5.8M Payout to E. Jean Carroll
Donald Trump's attempt to delay his $5.8 million payment to E. Jean Carroll has been denied by a federal judge. The verdict holds firm for sexual abuse and defamation.
A federal judge has denied former President Donald Trump's latest attempt to delay the payment of a $5.8 million civil judgment to magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll. This decision comes just days after the US Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in the long-running legal battle.
Trump's legal team had sought an extension to respond to Carroll's request for payment, arguing that their new lead counsel needed more time to become familiar with the case. This request came after Trump's former lead counsel, Justin Smith, was appointed as a federal judge last month. The lawyers claimed there was no risk of "material harm" to Carroll, as the judgment amount, including interest, is secured in an escrow fund.
However, E. Jean Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, strongly countered the request, describing it as "little more than yet another play for time." Kaplan pointed out that Trump had ample opportunity to retain new counsel since Smith's nomination to the court of appeals five months prior, suggesting a lack of diligence.
The $5.8 million payout stems from a 2023 jury verdict that found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in 1996 and subsequently defaming her when she publicly spoke about the attack in 2019. With interest, the sum has now grown to nearly $5.8 million. The recent denial by the federal judge underscores the court's stance against further delays, pushing the case closer to a final resolution of the payment.
