Donald Trump has lost his legal battle to challenge the $5m defamation damages awarded to E Jean Carroll, a New York writer who accused him of sexually abusing her in the 1990s. The US appeals court in New York City rejected Trump’s request to reconsider the jury’s decision, with two Trump-appointed judges dissenting. The jury found Trump guilty of sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her by denying the allegations as a hoax. Carroll, now 81, was awarded $5m in compensatory and punitive damages. Trump, who has faced numerous sexual assault allegations from over two dozen women, argued against the inclusion of the Access Hollywood tape in the trial.

The emergence of the Access Hollywood tape, where Trump bragged about groping women, was a significant moment in the 2016 presidential election but did not prevent his victory over Hillary Clinton. Despite losing to Joe Biden in 2020, Trump won a second term in 2024. Additionally, Trump is appealing an $83m jury award to Carroll for defamation, claiming that the legal immunity granted to presidents by the US Supreme Court should protect him from liability in this case as well. The legal battles surrounding Trump’s alleged misconduct and defamation continue to unfold, shedding light on the complexities of holding high-profile figures accountable for their actions.