Attorneys for E. Jean Carroll have asked a federal judge to order US President Donald Trump to pay the $5 million awarded to her after the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal in a civil case involving sexual abuse and defamation. Get today's headlines by email Carroll seeks release of judgment fundsIn a court filing submitted on Tuesday, Carroll's legal team argued that the long-running legal battle has reached its conclusion and that the money held in escrow should now be released to her. The Supreme Court rejected Trump's appeal without any recorded dissent, leaving intact the 2023 verdict and judgment against him. Lawyers oppose further delayCarroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, told the court that Trump's legal team had contacted her to ask whether Carroll would agree to another delay while Trump sought reconsideration from the Supreme Court. Kaplan rejected the request, writing that after four years of litigation through every level of the federal court system, the case should now come to an end. She argued that the conditions agreed by both sides for releasing the funds had been met once the Supreme Court declined to review the case. Under that agreement, she said, Carroll is entitled to receive the money awarded by the jury. The $5 million has remained in escrow while Trump's appeal was pending. Trump vows to continue legal fightFollowing the Supreme Court's decision, Trump said he intended to continue challenging the case. In a post on his social media platform, he described the lawsuit as an example of "weaponization" and "lawfare" and said he would keep fighting the defamation claim "with all of my power and strength." His attorneys have indicated they may ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its refusal to hear the appeal. Jury found Trump liable in 2023A Manhattan jury ruled in 2023 that Trump was liable for sexually abusing Carroll in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store during the mid-1990s. The jury also found him liable for defaming Carroll in 2022 after he publicly denied her allegations. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. In his appeal, Trump argued that the trial judge had made several legal errors. He objected to jurors being shown excerpts from the 2005 "Access Hollywood" recording, in which he discussed sexually aggressive behaviour that he later dismissed as "locker room talk." Trump also challenged the judge's decision to allow testimony from Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, two women who accused him of sexual assault. Trump has denied their allegations. With the Supreme Court declining to hear the appeal, Carroll's attorneys argue that there are no remaining grounds to withhold payment and have urged the court to release the funds without further delay. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 1 July 2026
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