A US federal appeals court has turned down former President Donald Trump’s recent attempt to delay the payment of $5.8 million to writer E. Jean Carroll. This follows Carroll’s successful sexual abuse and defamation lawsuit in 2023. The court’s decision comes after Trump contested a lower court’s directive that ordered the release of the funds, which had been held in a court-controlled account during the period of appeals.
The amount Trump is required to pay includes the initial $5 million judgment as well as the interest that has accumulated. The ruling arrives shortly after the US Supreme Court’s decision to not entertain Trump’s appeal, thereby upholding the original judgment in favor of Carroll. With this decision, the legal avenues for appeal have been exhausted, according to Judge Lewis Kaplan, who emphasized that it is now time for the judgment to be fulfilled.
Despite the court’s ruling, Trump has continued to deny the allegations made against him. He also persists in disputing the legal interpretation of the agreement that governs the release of the funds. His legal team has been actively challenging the directives, yet the appeals court’s decision reinforces the requirement to proceed with the payment to Carroll.
This recent development marks a significant step in the legal journey that began with Carroll’s lawsuit, which initially resulted in the $5 million judgment. The court’s decision to reject Trump’s request for a delay underscores the conclusion of a lengthy legal battle and the enforcement of the original court’s ruling.