A federal appeals court in Manhattan dismissed Donald Trump’s recent attempt to postpone the payment of over $5 million to E. Jean Carroll, following her successful trial for sexual abuse and defamation in 2023.
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued its ruling shortly after Trump filed a motion contesting the order from Judge Lewis Kaplan of the Manhattan federal court to release the funds, which have been held in a court-controlled account since June 2023. Trump maintains that he has done nothing wrong.
In his emergency application, Trump requested an “immediate administrative stay” of Kaplan’s order to maintain the current situation while the court considers his forthcoming request for a stay during the appeals process, according to court documents.
With interest accrued, the total amount held by the court now stands at approximately $5.8 million. Trump submitted his appeal within an hour of Judge Kaplan’s ruling.
Judge Kaplan’s order indicated: “The Clerk is respectfully directed to disburse the value of the principal judgment, which amounts to $5,000,000.00… The Clerk is further respectfully directed to disburse the value of the post-judgment interest.”
Several hours after issuing the order to release the funds, Judge Kaplan provided a memorandum clarifying his decision.
“Ultimately, the defendant has been delaying this case for years,” Kaplan stated. “A jury has unanimously determined that he sexually abused and defamed the plaintiff and awarded her damages accordingly.”
Kaplan further noted, “The judgment on that verdict has been upheld on appeal. En banc rehearing has been denied. The Supreme Court has denied certiorari without dissent.”
“It’s time for him to ‘do equity’ and pay the judgment,” Kaplan concluded.
This directive followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal on June 29 to hear Trump’s appeal regarding Carroll’s case. After the high court declined to review his appeal, Carroll’s attorneys urged Judge Kaplan to expedite the release of the funds.
Roberta Kaplan, lead attorney for Carroll, asserted in court documents, “After four years of litigation across every level of the federal court system, it is time for this case to end. Under the Court’s Stipulation and Order, Carroll is now entitled to the payment of the money due under the judgment.”
Trump had requested that Judge Kaplan refrain from ordering the release of these funds, indicating that he intended to ask the Supreme Court to reconsider his appeal.
Approximately six weeks after Carroll’s legal victory, both her legal team and Trump’s representatives had agreed that he would deposit $5 million, plus 11% interest, into a court-managed fund while his appeal process continued. According to this agreement, Carroll’s attorneys noted that the funds were to be disbursed upon conclusive legal developments, including the Supreme Court’s rejection of Trump’s appeal.
Trump’s legal team has argued that Carroll’s representatives misinterpreted the agreement, asserting that it “does not permit collection while the rehearing petition remains unresolved.”
