Donald Trump has agreed to drop his court fight against the disbursement of E. Jean Carroll’s $5m verdict in her 2023 sexual abuse and defamation civil trial, according to a filing revealed Tuesday by the United States court of appeals for the second circuit. Though the procedural development does not change the outcome of Carroll’s payout—since the funds were already distributed to her in July—the filing means Trump will no longer legally oppose the monetary award.
Second Circuit Mandate Dismisses Trump Appeal
The filing on Tuesday marked a formal conclusion to a legal battle that had already been rendered moot by the United States Supreme Court. The Second Circuit issued a mandate stating that the parties stipulated to dismiss the appeal with prejudice and that Trump withdrew his motion for a stay pending appeal.
“The parties stipulate to dismiss this appeal with prejudice … and [Trump] withdraws his motion for a stay pending appeal,” the Second Circuit said in the mandate. “The stipulation is SO ORDERED. The stay motion … is deemed WITHDRAWN.”
Neama Rahmani, founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers and a former federal prosecutor, described the development regarding the money-related order plainly. “He’d previously given up in district court. Now he’s given up in circuit court,” Rahmani said. “It’s a final nail in the coffin. There’s absolutely no way Trump can go after Carroll for this five million plus dollars.”
Timeline of Court-Held Funds and Supreme Court Actions
Trump had unsuccessfully asked the Second Circuit in July to postpone the disbursement of the money while he appealed a lower court’s decision mandating its distribution. The $5 million came from a court-administered fund held pending Trump’s appeal of the 2023 verdict.
Manhattan federal court judge Lewis Kaplan ordered the disbursement of the funds on July 8, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 29 decision not to review Trump’s appeal. Less than an hour after that decision, Trump asked the Second Circuit for a stay so he could fight Kaplan’s mandate. The Second Circuit rejected the request.
Court records dated July 14 indicate that the court-held funds—which totaled $5.8m due to accrued interest—were officially released on July 9. In August, the Supreme Court rejected Trump’s efforts to overturn the jury verdict for a second time by denying his request for a rehearing.
Outstanding Defamation Judgment and Legal Team Response
While the $5 million dispute is closed, Trump is currently asking the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out a second, much larger payment of $83m awarded against him for defaming Carroll in her January 2024 civil trial.
Asked for comment on the proceedings, a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team issued a statement criticizing the litigation. “The American People stand with President Trump as they demand an immediate end to all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded travesty of the Carroll Hoaxes,” the spokesperson said. “President Trump will keep winning against Liberal Lawfare, as he continues to focus on his mission to Make America Great Again.”
Questions About the Carroll Verdict Disbursement
Why did Trump drop his appeal regarding the $5m verdict?
The appeal was already rendered moot after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his opposition, prompting the Second Circuit to formalize the dismissal of the appeal.
Were the funds actually distributed to E. Jean Carroll?
Yes. Court records dated July 14 indicate that the funds, which grew to $5.8m due to accrued interest, were released to Carroll on July 9.
Does this affect the other judgment against Trump?
No. This development applies only to the 2023 trial verdict. Trump is separately asking the U.S. Supreme Court to toss out a separate $83m judgment stemming from a January 2024 defamation trial.
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