In a decisive move, a US federal appeals court has denied former President Donald Trump’s bid to postpone the payment of $5.8 million to E. Jean Carroll. This ruling comes in the aftermath of Carroll’s victory in a 2023 lawsuit, where she accused Trump of sexual abuse and defamation. The money, which was held in a court-managed account during the legal proceedings, includes the initial $5 million judgment in addition to accumulated interest.
The appeals court’s decision follows a recent stance by the US Supreme Court, which opted not to review Trump’s appeal, thereby maintaining the original judgment. Judge Lewis Kaplan, overseeing the case, remarked that all legal avenues had been exhausted, emphasizing that the time had come for the judgment to be executed and the funds released.
Trump had previously sought to contest a lower court’s directive that called for the disbursement of the funds. Despite the ongoing legal battles, Trump has consistently refuted all allegations made by Carroll and has continued to question the interpretation of the legal agreement related to the case.
The resolution of this legal matter marks a significant step in Carroll’s pursuit for justice, after a drawn-out judicial process. With the appeals court’s recent ruling, the path is finally cleared for Carroll to receive the compensation determined by the court, marking a conclusion to this particular chapter of legal proceedings involving the former president.