WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected President Donald Trump's bid to overturn a $5 million jury verdict that found he sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s and later defamed her.
The justices declined to hear the case in a brief, unsigned order without explanation, as is customary. There were no noted dissents.
Trump's attorneys argued the verdict was tainted by what they called "highly inflammatory" evidentiary rulings, including a judge's decision to allow testimony from two other women who also accused Trump of sexual abuse decades ago. Trump has denied all three women's allegations.
In a Truth Social post following the decision, Trump criticized the court for declining to hear the appeal and again denied Carroll's allegations.
"Surprisingly, the Supreme Court declined to 'review' a Fake Case brought against me by a woman I never met," Trump wrote, adding that he would "continue the fight against this Weaponization and Lawfare Case" and arguing the lawsuit "is really against the United States of America."
His legal team also argued the trial judge improperly applied federal evidence rules, writing in court filings that, "This mistreatment of a President cannot be allowed to stand." Attorney Justin D. Smith, who filed the appeal, has since been nominated by Trump to serve as a federal appeals court judge.
Following Monday's decision, Trump's legal team blasted the ruling in a statement.
"The American People stand with President Trump as they demand an immediate end to all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded travesty of the Carroll Hoaxes," the statement said. "President Trump will keep winning against Liberal Lawfare, as he continues to focus on his mission to Make America Great Again."
Carroll's attorneys urged the Supreme Court to reject the appeal, arguing the testimony from the two additional women was properly admitted because their allegations were similar to Carroll's. They also argued U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan's rulings were consistent with courts across the country.
Carroll, a longtime advice columnist and former television host, testified during a 2023 trial that Trump sexually assaulted her in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store across the street from Trump Tower in Manhattan, after what began as a friendly encounter in the spring of 1996.
The jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and later defamation after he denied Carroll's allegations in 2022, awarding her $5 million in damages.
Carroll later won an additional $83.3 million in a separate defamation case stemming from Trump's continued attacks against her. Trump is appealing that judgment, though the case has not yet reached the Supreme Court.
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