Judge Orders Release of $5.8 Million to E. Jean Carroll in Landmark Sex Abuse and Defamation Case
New York, NY – A federal judge has ordered the immediate release of $5.8 million held in escrow to writer E. Jean Carroll, marking a significant development in her protracted legal battle against former President Donald Trump. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan on Wednesday paves the way for Carroll to finally collect the judgment from a May 2023 jury verdict that found Trump liable for sexually abusing her and defaming her with his denials. This decision follows the U.S. Supreme Court's recent refusal to review Trump's appeal of that initial civil verdict, effectively clearing the final legal hurdle for the funds' disbursement.
The Verdict and Its Journey to Disbursement
The $5.8 million now ordered for release stems from a federal jury's unanimous decision in May 2023. That jury found that Donald Trump had sexually abused E. Jean Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in 1996 and subsequently defamed her through statements he made in October 2022. The initial award in that case was $5 million. Shortly after the verdict, Trump deposited the $5 million into a court-controlled escrow account, known as the Court Registry Investment System (CRIS), a standard practice allowing him to pursue appeals without immediately paying Carroll. Over the intervening period, the principal sum has accrued interest, growing to the current amount of $5.8 million.
Judge Kaplan's order to release these funds directly followed the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2026 decision to decline Trump's request for review of the 2023 verdict. This rejection left the lower court's judgment intact, thereby removing any remaining legal justification for withholding the funds from Carroll.
Genesis of a Prolonged Legal Battle
E. Jean Carroll, a former advice columnist, first publicly accused Trump of sexual assault in 2019, detailing the alleged 1996 encounter in her memoir. Trump vehemently denied her allegations, asserting that he had never met her and famously claiming she was "not my type," in addition to calling her account false. These denials formed the basis of Carroll's subsequent legal actions.
The lawsuit leading to the $5.8 million judgment was filed under New York's Adult Survivors Act, a landmark law enacted in 2022 that created a look-back window for survivors of sexual abuse to file civil claims that would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations. The civil trial, which Trump did not attend, saw Carroll testify about the incident, which she described as a flirtatious encounter that turned violent. While the jury did not find Trump liable for "rape" under New York's then-specific legal definition that required forcible penile penetration, they unequivocally determined he was liable for sexual abuse and for defaming Carroll through his subsequent denials. The verdict was a vindication for Carroll, who stated post-verdict that "the world finally knows the truth".
Trump's Persistent Appeals and Legal Maneuvers
The order to disburse the $5.8 million was met with immediate resistance from Donald Trump's legal team. His attorneys swiftly filed an appeal and sought an emergency order to block the payment, echoing their previous attempts to delay financial recompense. However, Judge Eunice C. Lee of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected this emergency request late Wednesday, allowing the transfer of funds to proceed.
Throughout the various stages of the litigation, Trump and his legal representatives have consistently maintained his innocence and characterized the lawsuits as politically motivated. His attorneys have accused political opponents of weaponizing the legal system against him. Despite numerous appeals being rejected by various courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court for the 2023 verdict, Trump's team has indicated their intention to continue challenging the outcomes. Carroll's lawyers, in contrast, have expressed a desire for finality, arguing that "Carroll has waited more than three years for a jury's verdict to be paid. She should not have to wait any longer".
A Broader Legal Landscape: Differentiating the Judgments
It is important to note that the $5.8 million judgment is distinct from another significant award Carroll received against Trump. In January 2024, a separate Manhattan jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages in a second defamation lawsuit. This larger award was related to defamatory statements Trump made in 2019, shortly after Carroll's allegations became public in her memoir. Trump is also appealing this $83.3 million judgment, which includes $7.3 million for emotional damages, $11 million for reputation-related damages, and $65 million in punitive damages. The jury in that trial, overseen by the same Judge Kaplan, was instructed to accept the findings of the prior jury regarding sexual abuse and only determine the monetary damages for the subsequent defamation.
Conclusion: A Chapter Closes, But the Litigation Continues
The release of the $5.8 million to E. Jean Carroll signifies a decisive close to one chapter of her complex legal battle with Donald Trump. After years of litigation, appeals, and denials, this initial jury-awarded sum, augmented by interest, is now set to reach Carroll, providing a measure of financial and symbolic justice for the sexual abuse and defamation she experienced. While this specific judgment has reached a final stage of enforcement, the broader legal saga between Carroll and Trump is not entirely concluded, as appeals pertaining to the substantially larger $83.3 million defamation award remain ongoing.
