Trump has been blocked by a federal appeals court from overturning a defamation verdict tied to E. Jean Carroll’s accusations. The jury cleared him of rape, but upheld claims of abuse and defamation. The legal battle now heads toward the Supreme Court.
Key Facts:
- A New York federal appeals court rejected Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn a $5 million jury verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll.
- The case stemmed from Carroll’s 2019 accusation that Trump raped her in the 1990s—a claim the jury rejected while still finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation.
- Trump objected to the use of the “Access Hollywood” tape during trial, arguing it was irrelevant and prejudicial; two judges agreed in dissent.
- Carroll had sued Trump twice, once in 2019 after her book release and again in 2022; the second case alone led to an $83 million verdict, which Trump is also appealing.
- Trump now has the option to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court as his final legal remedy.
The Rest of The Story:
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit declined to revisit the 2022 jury verdict that found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist.
The case originally stemmed from Carroll’s 2019 allegation that Trump raped her in a Manhattan department store dressing room sometime in the 1990s.
The jury in the civil suit cleared Trump of the rape claim but found him responsible for abuse and defamatory statements he made while denying Carroll’s story.
Trump had challenged the admissibility of certain evidence—specifically the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood tape.
Two judges on the panel, both Trump appointees, sided with him and dissented, calling the tape “propensity evidence,” which courts typically reject for being unfairly prejudicial.
“If the panel opinion remains a precedent of our court, a future plaintiff or the government will be able to introduce evidence of prior conduct,” the dissenting judges warned.
JUST IN: The full bench of the NY-based 2nd Circuit Court of appeals has *denied* Donald Trump's appeal of E. Jean Carroll's win against him in court.
Supreme Court would be next/last stop. pic.twitter.com/FvJViFjepx
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) June 13, 2025
Commentary:
This ruling exposes a troubling double standard in how high-profile defamation cases are handled.
Carroll made a public, explosive allegation of rape against a sitting president.
The jury rejected that core allegation.
Yet Trump is still being held financially liable for defending himself—because his denials were considered defamatory.
That’s a stunning legal contradiction.
Carroll published a book outlining her version of events.
That book accused Trump of a heinous crime.
Trump’s response—denying the accusation, questioning her motives, and pointing to political bias—was not out of line.
In fact, it was exactly what any public figure would do under similar attack.
The inclusion of the Access Hollywood tape, which was unrelated to Carroll’s specific claim, tilted the scales.
The dissenting judges were right: this kind of evidence doesn’t belong in courtrooms if fairness matters.
Using a crude remark from over a decade earlier as a character indictment in a case with no direct connection raises serious concerns.
The courts have essentially created a playbook: someone can make a career-destroying accusation in public, and if the accused forcefully defends themselves, they open the door to civil liability.
That’s not justice—that’s political warfare with legal cover.
The message being sent is clear: deny an accusation, especially if you’re Donald Trump, and you’ll pay for it in court—regardless of whether the original accusation holds up.
Two juries now have found Trump didn’t commit rape.
Yet the damages he’s expected to pay continue to grow.
JUST IN: The full bench of the NY-based 2nd Circuit Court of appeals has *denied* Donald Trump's appeal of E. Jean Carroll's win against him in court.
Supreme Court would be next/last stop. pic.twitter.com/FvJViFjepx
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) June 13, 2025
If this stands, it creates precedent that could chill free speech for anyone in the public eye.
The fact that two Trump-appointed judges dissented isn’t just a political footnote—it shows there’s serious concern from within the judiciary.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court may need to weigh in.
The stakes aren’t just about one man’s reputation—they’re about what Americans can say in their own defense.
The Bottom Line:
A federal appeals court has refused to toss a jury’s decision that found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll.
The jury rejected her rape allegation but held Trump responsible for his denials.
With $88 million on the line across two cases, Trump’s last option may now lie with the U.S. Supreme Court.
How that court rules could shape how public figures defend themselves going forward.
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