Donald Trump’s legal team has petitioned the Supreme Court to intervene in a case involving E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of sexual assault, to avoid a financial payout to her. Trump’s lawyers assert that he is protected by presidential immunity for comments he made about Carroll while in office.
Additionally, Trump is seeking to delay any payment to Carroll to prevent her from donating the damages to charity, as she has previously indicated her intention to do. The legal filing highlights that if the Supreme Court overturns the lower court’s ruling, the funds may not be recoverable once disbursed to various organisations.
The petition urges an appeals court to halt its ruling in order for the Supreme Court to consider the case. In a rare intervention, the Department of Justice intends to present arguments at the Supreme Court on Trump’s behalf. Carroll’s defamation claim stems from Trump labeling her allegations as lies, which continues to fuel the legal dispute.
In 2019, Trump denied familiarity with Carroll, asserting she “wasn’t his type.” A jury ruled in favour of Carroll, finding her account of an alleged rape by Trump credible. Trump has maintained that her narrative is fabricated, describing it as a “hoax” amid numerous accusations against him.
With a conservative majority in the Supreme Court, including three justices appointed by Trump, his legal counsel is optimistic about receiving a favourable ruling. This motion follows a recent appeals court decision that rejected Trump’s attempt to have the United States act as his substitute in the defamation case, which could potentially lead to the dismissal of the charges, as the government cannot be sued for defamation.
Carroll is still awaiting her compensation after the jury’s decision, which substantiated her claims against Trump.