Donald Trump has paid $5 million in damages to writer E. Jean Carroll following a civil court judgment against him for sexual abuse and defamation. The payment settles a lawsuit filed by Carroll, who accused Trump of assaulting her in the 1990s and subsequently defaming her when he denied the allegations.
Trump initially attempted to block the payment through legal proceedings, including efforts to persuade the Supreme Court to overturn the judgment. Those attempts failed, forcing compliance with the court order. The case originated in New York state court, where a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in May 2023, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages.
Carroll, a longtime advice columnist and author, first publicly accused Trump of assault in a 2019 magazine article. Trump denied all allegations and called her claims false, statements that formed the basis of the defamation portion of the verdict. The legal battle stretched across multiple years and court proceedings, with Trump's legal team consistently challenging both the underlying claims and subsequent judgments.
This payment represents a notable moment for Trump, who has faced multiple legal challenges since his presidency ended in 2021. The case drew significant media attention given Trump's prominence and Carroll's public profile as a writer and media personality. The Supreme Court's refusal to intervene signaled the judicial system's rejection of Trump's efforts to delay or avoid the penalty.
The settlement marks the conclusion of one of several civil cases involving Trump, though other lawsuits remain pending in various jurisdictions. The payment follows months of legal maneuvering and represents a definitive financial consequence from the New York court system.