Donald Trump’s latest attempt to postpone payment of a $5.8 million civil judgment to magazine columnist E Jean Carroll has been emphatically denied by US District Judge Lewis Kaplan. Carroll was awarded the damages after a New York jury concluded that Trump sexually abused her in 1996 and subsequently defamed her when she publicly described the attack in 2019.

In a brief order dated July 4, Judge Kaplan rejected Trump’s request for additional time to satisfy the judgment. This request followed the US Supreme Court’s recent refusal to review the 2023 jury verdict without explanation.

Trump’s attorneys cited the recent confirmation of his former lead counsel, Justin Smith, to a federal judgeship in June, arguing that new lead counsel Josh Halpern required more time to familiarize himself with the case. Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, countered that the extension appeared to be a tactic to delay payment, noting that Trump had ample time to secure new representation since Smith’s nomination occurred over five months earlier.

Judge Kaplan’s denial was issued as a text-only order without a formal written explanation. The case has drawn attention for raising questions about presidential immunity, particularly concerning statements Trump made about Carroll during his presidency.

The judge has issued several rulings in the case that have drawn Trump’s ire. In 2023, following the jury’s award, Trump posted an angry message on his Truth Social platform, referencing Kaplan’s appointment during Bill Clinton’s presidency.

Sources