Trump pays writer E Jean Carroll $5m in damages over sexual abuse and defamation

July 14, 2026

President Donald Trump has paid writer E Jean Carroll over $5. 6 million in damages stemming from a 2023 civil verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming her. The payment, which includes the original $5 million award plus accumulated interest, was released after a judge rejected Trump's attempts to delay it while seeking Supreme Court review of the case.

Who is affected

E Jean Carroll, 82-year-old former magazine columnist and sexual abuse accuser
Donald Trump, US President and defendant in the case
Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the civil trial
Roberta Kaplan and Carroll's legal team
Trump's legal representatives
Women generally (as referenced by Carroll's statement about the win being "for every woman in the world")

What action is being taken

E Jean Carroll has received the damages payment of more than $5.62 million
Trump is appealing against another jury's decision awarding Carroll nearly $84 million in a separate defamation case

Why it matters

This case represents a significant legal accountability moment where a sitting US President has been required to pay substantial damages for sexual abuse and defamation. The ruling establishes legal precedent that public figures cannot escape consequences for such conduct, and Carroll herself framed the victory as meaningful for women worldwide who have faced similar abuse. The case also demonstrates that the judicial system, including multiple levels of appeals courts and the Supreme Court, upheld the original verdict despite Trump's repeated challenges.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC