According to The Wall Street Journal, on July 8 local time, a federal judge in New York ruled that U.S. President Trump must pay writer Carol the $5 million damages determined by the jury.
In 2023, Carroll alleged that Trump raped her nearly 30 years ago in a department store in Manhattan. That same year, a jury in the U.S. District Court of New York ruled that Trump had committed sexual assault and slander against Carroll, but did not convict him of rape. The jury ordered him to pay $5 million in damages.
After Trump's appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the original judgment in December 2024. Subsequently, Trump continued to appeal to the United States Supreme Court. At the end of June this year, the United States Supreme Court rejected Trump's appeal request.
Carroll's attorney stated that after Trump's appeal to the Supreme Court was rejected, there is no longer any reason to delay paying the debt. They have filed a request with the district court for the immediate payment of $5 million in compensation held in a court-managed account, as well as nearly $800,000 in accumulated interest.
On July 8th, local time, Federal District Judge Kaplan granted Carol’s request for compensation plus interest. Kaplan wrote in her written ruling that Trump ‘has been delaying the proceedings for many years’. The appeals court had already upheld the original judgment, and Trump’s attempts to seek a further review have all failed.
Caplan also stated that even if there is a “very low probability” of reversing or overturning the compensation award in the future, Trump can still sue to recover the funds. “Now is the time for him to fulfill his duty of fairness and pay the compensation awarded.”
Trump's lawyers immediately informed the court that they would file another appeal.
It is reported that Trump’s lawyers submitted legal documents to the court on the 7th, requesting the judge to postpone the payment. They stated that they have applied to the Supreme Court for a retrial of the case. They claim that Trump will suffer “irreparable losses,” and even if Trump wins the case, it is unlikely that this money can be recovered.
