On Wednesday, July 29th, 2026, former President Donald Trump filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court requesting the overturn of an $83.3 million defamation judgment awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll. Carroll had previously won $5 million in damages for sexual abuse and defamation related to allegations that Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1990s during an encounter at Bergdorf Goodman in Manhattan.

A jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her after she publicly accused him in 2019. The defamation judgment stems from Trump's repeated denials during his first term in office, including calling Carroll a "whack job" and claiming he had never met her. Carroll's attorneys cited this pattern of denials in public appearances, social media posts, and court proceedings during the trial.

Trump's legal team argues that an appeals panel erred by not ruling on whether Trump had presidential immunity under the Westfall Act when making the statements. The Westfall Act protects federal employees from liability for actions taken within the scope of their official duties.

Graham Kates, an investigative reporter for CBS News Digital who has covered criminal justice and privacy issues, reported on the case. He previously covered Trump's 2024 campaign and worked as an associate producer for "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

Sources