(PatriotNews.net) – Donald Trump’s last legal defense against E. Jean Carroll’s sexual abuse claims crumbles as federal appeals court delivers crushing $5 million verdict, leaving Supreme Court as his final desperate option.
Key Takeaways
- Federal appeals court has definitively upheld the $5 million judgment against former President Trump for sexual abuse and defamation of E. Jean Carroll
- The Second Circuit Court rejected Trump’s request for an en banc rehearing, with only Trump-appointed Judge Menashi dissenting
- Critical evidence including the infamous Access Hollywood tape and testimony from other Trump accusers was properly admitted, according to the ruling
- Trump faces an additional $83 million defamation judgment in a separate Carroll case, bringing potential total liability to $88 million
- Trump’s only remaining option is an appeal to the Supreme Court, which legal experts consider unlikely to succeed
Appeals Court Delivers Final Blow to Trump’s Defense
In a devastating legal setback for former President Donald Trump, a federal appeals court has firmly upheld the $5 million judgment against him in the E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse and defamation case. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s latest attempt to overturn the verdict on June 14, 2025, leaving the Supreme Court as his final recourse. This decision marks the third time Trump has failed to escape accountability in this case, following the original jury verdict and the initial appellate review in December 2024.
The unanimous decision from the three-judge panel reinforces the May 2023 jury finding that Trump sexually abused Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. The court also upheld the determination that Trump defamed Carroll through his 2022 Truth Social post where he vehemently denied her allegations and attacked her character. Trump’s request for an en banc review, which would have involved the entire circuit court reconsidering the case, was flatly denied.
Original Verdict Details and Evidence
The original jury verdict awarded Carroll $2 million for the sexual abuse claim and $3 million for defamation after concluding Trump acted with “actual malice” in his statements about her. While the jury did not find Trump liable for rape under New York’s narrow legal definition at the time, they firmly established his culpability for sexual abuse. The distinction is largely technical, as the jury clearly determined that Trump had committed a serious sexual assault against Carroll.
In their detailed 77-page ruling from December, the appeals court judges determined that the trial court properly admitted critical evidence that Trump had sought to exclude. This included damaging testimony from two other women who accused Trump of similar sexual misconduct and the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood tape where Trump boasted about sexually assaulting women. The court found these elements were relevant to establishing Trump’s pattern of behavior and state of mind.
Lone Dissent from Trump Appointee
The only dissenting voice in the appeals process came from Judge Steven Menashi, a Trump appointee, who argued on First Amendment grounds that Trump should have been allowed to claim political motivation behind the lawsuit. This isolated dissent highlights the overwhelming legal consensus against Trump’s position, as even a judge he personally appointed could not persuade his colleagues on the bench to reconsider the case.
“Donald Trump remains liable for sexually abusing and defaming our client E. Jean Carroll,” stated Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney. “No legal maneuver can change the jury’s findings or the fact that Trump continues to face the consequences of his actions.” This statement underscores the finality of the judgment and the mounting legal and financial pressure on the former president as his options for appeal dwindle.
Mounting Financial Liability
The $5 million judgment represents only a portion of Trump’s potential liability to Carroll. In January 2024, a separate jury awarded Carroll an additional $83 million in a related defamation case stemming from statements Trump made while president. That verdict is currently undergoing its own appeal process. If both judgments stand, Trump will owe Carroll a staggering $88 million in total damages for his actions and subsequent statements.
Legal experts note that Trump’s chances of success at the Supreme Court level are extremely slim. The appellate court’s thorough and detailed ruling left little room for substantive legal challenges, and the Supreme Court typically declines to hear cases that primarily involve factual disputes rather than novel legal questions. Trump had previously set aside $5.55 million in an escrow account pending the outcome of his appeal, funds that will now likely be released to Carroll.
Broader Pattern of Legal Accountability
This upheld verdict represents part of a broader pattern of legal accountability that has increasingly ensnared the former president. Trump’s attempts to portray these cases as politically motivated witch hunts have consistently failed to persuade judges and juries across multiple jurisdictions. The Carroll case is particularly significant as it represents the first time Trump has been held legally accountable for alleged sexual misconduct, despite facing accusations from numerous women over the years.
Carroll may not be finished with her legal pursuit of Trump. Reports indicate she may file a third lawsuit over post-verdict comments where Trump called her a “whack job” during a CNN town hall. This pattern of defiant statements in the face of legal defeats has repeatedly created new legal exposure for the former president, compounding his legal troubles and financial liabilities at a time when he can least afford additional complications.
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