politics
Federal court releases $5.6 million to E Jean Carroll from Trump escrow account
A Manhattan federal court disbursed more than $5.6 million to E Jean Carroll on 9 July after Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered the release. The funds had been held in a court registry investment system while appeals proceeded.
Jul 14, 11:12 AM·1m read2 sources
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A Manhattan federal court released more than $5.6 million to E Jean Carroll on 9 July from an escrow account tied to a 2023 sexual abuse and defamation verdict against Donald Trump. The disbursement was recorded on the case docket on 14 July. Judge Lewis Kaplan had ordered the release one day earlier after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal on 29 June.
Background of the case A jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in 2023 and awarded Carroll damages. Both sides had agreed to place the award in the court registry investment system while appeals continued. Trump’s legal team had asked for additional time to respond to the release request, but the judge denied the motion.
The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the appeal triggered the release under the terms both parties had accepted.
Separate 2024 award A different Manhattan federal jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in 2024 for additional defamatory statements. That case also arose from a 2019 New York magazine article that excerpted Carroll’s book. Carroll’s lead lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, said in a statement that the payment fulfills the 2023 jury award. Trump has denied wrongdoing throughout the proceedings.
