Here’s the latest I can share based on public reporting up to May 2026.
Direct answer
- As of May 2026, E. Jean Carroll’s defamation case against former President Donald J. Trump has progressed through appellate review with ongoing disputes about damages and scope. Components of the litigation include an $83.3 million damages award for defamation, stemming from Trump’s 2019 and 2022 statements about Carroll, and ongoing appeals and petitions that could affect the amount or viability of the judgment. See summaries of appellate rulings and ongoing requests for Supreme Court review in recent coverage.[1][2][5]
Context and key developments
- Initial verdict and damages: A 2023 jury found Trump liable for defaming Carroll based on statements in 2019 and other published remarks, awarding Carroll about $5 million in compensatory damages plus substantial punitive components that later portions of the litigation refined to a total of $83.3 million in damages on appeal. This framework is described in contemporary recaps and later appellate documents.[3][5]
- Appellate posture: In late 2024 and into 2025, federal appellate courts reviewed questions around the verdict and damages, with some reporting indicating an affirmation of the $83.3 million damages award and other portions contesting elements like malice standards and whether certain evidentiary issues should have altered the outcome. For example, articles and court documents summarize the appellate rulings and the possibility of further review.[5][7]
- Supreme Court consideration: There have been requests for Supreme Court review or reconsideration by higher courts in the wake of the appellate decisions, though it remained uncertain whether the Court would take up the case as of late 2025. Coverage notes the ongoing uncertainty about whether the Supreme Court will accept the petition or what procedural path remains for Trump.[2]
- Related background: Carroll’s suit involves both a sexual assault claim and a defamation claim tied to statements Trump made about Carroll, with subsequent litigation addressing damages, possible reductions, and procedural questions raised by Trump’s team.[7][3]
What this means going forward
- The next steps, if pursued, could include additional appeals or petitions for review to the Supreme Court, potential adjustments to damages if courts find error in procedural rulings, and strategic decisions by both sides about settlement or further litigation. Coverage through 2025 shows this case as an active, high-profile appellate battleground with potential for further judicial action depending on which party remains dissatisfied with rulings at each stage.[2][5][7]
Note on sources
- For the most current, you may want to check updated outlets like CBS News, BBC, The New York Times interactive appellate materials, and court documents, which have provided near-daily or weekly updates on rulings and filings related to this case.[1][5][7][2]
Would you like me to pull the very latest court filings or summarize a specific filing or ruling from the current week? I can also provide a quick timeline of the major milestones with links.
Sources
The top court is Trump's last hope of having a jury's unanimous verdict thrown out. Whether it will take the case is unclear.
www.bbc.comA federal appeals court on Monday upheld an $83.3 million jury award against President Trump for defaming the writer E. Jean Carroll in 2019, after she accused him of a decades-old rape in a Manhattan…
www.nytimes.comThe Department of Justice wants to stand in for President Trump in his ongoing appeal of a defamation case that could cost him tens of millions of dollars.
www.cbsnews.comIn 1996, E. Jean Carroll encountered Donald J. Trump at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan. Carroll alleged that Trump sexually abused her in a dressing room. In 2022, Trump made public statements denying the allegations and calling Carroll a liar. Carroll sued Trump for defamation and sexual assault, seeking damages.
law.justia.comAn appeals court upheld a judgment against President Trump, requiring him to pay E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in damages for defamation. President Trump has previously indicated he would challenge the E. Jean Carroll case all the way to the Supreme Court. The court roundly rejected claims by Trump that the judge who presided over the trial erred in a series of decisions. President-elect Donald Trump has lost a bid to overturn a $5 million dollar verdict against him for sexual abuse and...
www.cbsnews.comE. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump is the name of two related lawsuits by American author E. Jean Carroll against U.S. President Donald Trump. The two suits res...
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