Dem
50
Ties
1
GOP
49
When the Supreme Court declined to hear Donald Trump's appeal of the verdict awarding $5 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll for her defamation claims against Trump, the district judge overseeing the case ordered the money that had been held in escrow distributed to her. She's had access to the money, which had grown to $5.6 million, since that time.
Meanwhile, Trump continued to whine to the Supreme Court and asked it to reconsider his case. Yesterday, the Court rejected his request to rehear their earlier rejection. So this case, which was based on statements Trump made in 2022 after he left office the first time, is officially over.
There's still the matter of the second case, though, which was based on statements Trump made in 2019 while he was president. A jury awarded Carroll $83 million in that case, and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that verdict as well. Trump appealed to the Supremes, who have yet to decide whether to hear it. Trump's petition claims that: (1) He is immune from suit because the statements were official acts as president and (2) As a government employee, he can't be sued personally for doing his job.
Interestingly, Trump didn't claim immunity until late in the appeal process, so arguably he has waived that claim. Also, this is a civil case, and the broad standard for immunity articulated by the Court in the criminal case of Trump v. U.S. doesn't apply here, though there is some overlap. But more importantly, does the Court really want to delve into any remaining issues regarding presidential immunity in a case where a jury found that the president sexually assaulted the defendant? Our guess is they will take a pass. Carroll hasn't gotten the $83 million yet, but that interest is accruing, too. One of these days, her cat is going to eat good. (L)