Magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll asked a judge to return more than $5 million to her, a day after the Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to challenge a jury’s finding that he sexually assaulted and defamed her.
Carroll’s lawyers asked the judge to expedite the briefing schedule on her motion to release the funds, saying both sides had previously agreed to do so following the ruling by the nation’s highest court.
“Given that yesterday the Supreme Court denied Defendant’s motion for certiorari, and given the cost to Plaintiff of further delay in this nearly four-year litigation, we submit that there is compelling reason to accept a moderately compressed briefing schedule regarding payment of the judgment,” they wrote.
Carroll’s lawyers have asked for all briefings to be completed by July 10.
On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal, which argued the trial judge erred in allowing certain evidence to be shown to the jury.
The decision exhausted Trump’s legal options to challenge the decision, which would normally have allowed the funds to be transferred. However, Trump promised to continue the fight. One promising option is to ask the Supreme Court to review the decision, and it has about 25 days to file those papers.
Carroll’s lawyers said in a separate statement Tuesday night that Trump’s legal team asked her to agree to delay raising the money so he could ask the Supreme Court to review the decision. Her lawyers rejected this request.
“Accordingly, after four years of litigation at all levels of the federal court system, the time has come to bring this matter to a close. And pursuant to the court’s judgment and order, Carroll is now entitled to receive payment of the moneys due under the judgment,” they wrote.
Following the jury’s verdict in 2023, Trump was required to deposit $5.5 million (the amount of the award plus interest) into a court-controlled account.
Trump said he would appeal the $83 million ruling to the Supreme Court. A jury awarded Carroll $83 million in damages after it was revealed that Trump had defamed her for his repeated claims that he did not know who she was and did not attack her, and for his claims that she made the accusation for selling the book.
The petition is expected to be accepted in the next few days.
This story has been updated with additional details.