Supreme Court again rejects Trump's bid to overturn E Jean Carroll sex abuse case

August 17, 2026

The US Supreme Court has rejected President Donald Trump's second attempt to overturn a civil jury verdict finding him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E Jean Carroll in the 1990s. Trump had argued that the trial judge improperly allowed prejudicial evidence, including the 2005 Access Hollywood tape, to be shown to jurors. After the court's initial June rejection, Trump paid Carroll over $5 million in damages in July, though he continues to deny wrongdoing.

Who is affected

President Donald Trump (liable party and defendant)
E Jean Carroll, 82-year-old former magazine columnist (plaintiff and victim)
Roberta Kaplan and Carroll's legal team
The civil jury that rendered the original verdict
Women supporters who backed Carroll throughout the case

What action is being taken

Trump has a separate petition pending before the Supreme Court seeking to overturn an $83.3 million defamation verdict in another Carroll case.

Why it matters

This decision establishes that a sitting US president can be held accountable in civil court for conduct that occurred before taking office, finalizing a verdict that cannot be challenged in any court. The case demonstrates that even powerful political figures face legal consequences for sexual abuse and defamation, which may encourage other victims to come forward. Trump's characterization of the case as "lawfare" raises concerns about presidential accountability and whether legal protections might shield future presidents from legitimate civil claims.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC