In a recent development, Donald Trump’s attempt to challenge the $5 million verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll, a former magazine columnist who accused him of sexual abuse and defamation, was unsuccessful as a federal appeals court upheld the decision. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan maintained its ruling from December 30, 2024, supporting the initial jury award.

Carroll, now 81, alleged that Trump assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in Manhattan around 1996 and defamed her by dismissing her claims as a hoax on Truth Social in October 2022. Although jurors in May 2023 found Trump guilty of sexually assaulting Carroll and defaming her, they did not agree with her rape accusation.

In his bid for reconsideration, Trump argued that the trial judge erred by allowing jurors to view the 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape where he boasted about his sexual exploits, along with other inflammatory evidence involving two additional women. These women, Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, accused Trump of misconduct, which he has denied.

Separately, Trump is challenging an $83.3 million defamation verdict from January 2024 related to Carroll’s allegations. He contends that a Supreme Court decision granting him significant criminal immunity shields him from liability in Carroll’s civil case. Trump has consistently refuted Carroll’s claims, stating she was “not his type” and suggesting she fabricated the rape accusation to promote her memoir.