Trump Challenges Major Monetary Damages Verdict Before Supreme Court

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to overturn an $83 million judicial ruling against him in a defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of assault decades ago. Trump's lawyers argued that a 2024 Supreme Court ruling, granting presidents immunity for actions while in office, should protect him. They stated, "This is the first case in our nation's history where a court has held a president liable for damages for official actions." Separately, the Justice Department filed a petition Tuesday asking the Supreme Court to allow the federal government to replace Trump as defendant. If approved, this would enable the government to seek the judgment's annulment, as it cannot be sued for defamation. Lower courts had previously rejected similar departmental requests. DOJ officials argue the U.S. should be substituted as defendant under a law granting federal employees partial immunity from civil damages for actions within their job scope. They noted some disputed defamation statements occurred during Trump's first presidency. The DOJ wrote, "Without this Court's intervention, the former President faces personal liability approaching $100 million for conduct within his official duties, warranting this Court's attention." Both parties in the lawsuit declined to comment on the new appeal. A Manhattan jury awarded Carroll this sum in 2024 after a civil trial where she testified Trump assaulted her in a Manhattan store in the mid-1990s, an allegation Trump denies. Carroll first publicly disclosed these allegations in 2019, prompting furious reactions from Trump, who called them a "complete hoax," "fabricated," and a "scam" to sell her memoir. He also stated she was "not attractive enough" and accused her of lying, leading to years of threats and attacks against Carroll from his supporters. An appeals court panel upheld the September ruling for $83.3 million in damages and rejected Trump's April request for a full court rehearing. These actions paved the way for his Supreme Court appeal. Notably, in November, Trump appealed to the Supreme Court a separate $5 million defamation judgment by Carroll against him. The jury found Trump liable for "assaulting Carroll and defaming her." Last June, the Supreme Court upheld this previous judgment.