U.S. President Donald Trump has petitioned the Supreme Court to dismiss a $83.3 million defamation judgment awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll, arguing that the decision against him undermines presidential immunity.
The legal battle began after Carroll accused Trump of sexually assaulting her at a New York department store in the 1990s. She later sued him for defamation over comments he made denying the allegations and accusing her of fabricating the claims to promote her book.
In a court filing submitted on Tuesday, Trump’s legal team urged the Supreme Court to reverse the ruling, arguing that statements he made while serving as president should have been protected under presidential immunity.
His lawyers criticised the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which upheld the Manhattan jury’s 2024 verdict ordering Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages.
They argued that the appeals court had weakened protections available to presidents, claiming its ruling offered less immunity than protections given to lawmakers and states.
“This is the first case in American history where a court has imposed financial liability on a president for actions taken while in office,” Trump’s lawyers said.
They warned that allowing the judgment to stand could affect future presidents and interfere with the ability of the presidency to function effectively.
The attorneys also argued that the case deserved Supreme Court consideration because Trump was ordered to pay nearly $100 million over remarks he made from the White House while defending himself against accusations about his suitability for office.
Carroll filed the lawsuit in November 2019 during Trump’s first term, accusing him of defaming her after he described her allegations as false and claimed she was attempting to promote a book.
A jury in January 2024 awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages after finding Trump liable for defamation. Trump appealed the decision, but the Second Circuit Court upheld the verdict, stating that there was sufficient evidence that his comments contributed to harassment against Carroll.
The latest appeal follows the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear Trump’s challenge against a separate 2023 judgment, in which a jury found him liable for sexually abusing Carroll and awarded her $5 million in damages.
Trump’s lawyers maintained that without Supreme Court intervention, the sitting president would face a significant personal financial penalty for actions they believe were connected to his official duties.