Donald Trump's latest attempt to delay the release of over $5 million in court-held funds owed to writer E Jean Carroll failed on Wednesday. Manhattan federal court judge Lewis Kaplan issued an order directing the disbursement of the money, which includes a $5 million jury award plus interest, totaling approximately $5.8 million.
Trump's Request Denied
Less than 24 hours after Trump asked Judge Kaplan not to order the release of the funds, Kaplan issued the order. Trump's legal team had argued that releasing the money would cause irreparable harm and that Carroll's lawyers had an incorrect reading of the agreement governing the funds. Within an hour of Kaplan's order, Trump filed an appeal.
The funds were deposited into a court-controlled account about six weeks after Carroll's victory in her 2023 sexual abuse and defamation civil trial. The agreement between the parties stipulated that the money would be released upon certain legal developments, such as the Supreme Court refusing to hear Trump's appeal.
Supreme Court Decision
Trump's failed request stems from the Supreme Court's 29 June decision not to review his appeal of the case. After lower courts repeatedly rejected his challenges to the verdict, Trump sought Supreme Court intervention, but the court declined to hear the case.
Following the Supreme Court's denial, Carroll's legal team asked Judge Kaplan to order the release of the funds. Lead Carroll attorney Roberta Kaplan argued in court filings: "After four years of litigation across every level of the federal court system, it is time for this case to end. And under the Court's Stipulation and Order, Carroll is now entitled to obtain payment of the money due under the judgment."
Trump's Arguments
In his push against the release, Trump's legal team cited his 6 July petition for the Supreme Court to reconsider their denial. They argued that releasing the money before the rehearing petition was resolved "would cause President Trump irreparable harm while not improperly disadvantaging [Carroll] in any way."
Trump's lawyers claimed that Carroll's lawyers made an "incorrect reading" of the agreement and that it "does not permit collection while the rehearing petition remains unresolved." They further argued: "President Trump, however, faces unrecoverable loss: Plaintiff has repeatedly stated that she intends to give away all funds that she collects from him, and once those funds are distributed to third parties, they likely cannot be recovered."
Trump asked Kaplan to deny Carroll's request or, alternatively, to delay making a decision. Kaplan's order directed the clerk to disburse the principal judgment of $5 million plus post-judgment interest.
