Trump asks judge not to order release of $5.8m payment to E Jean Carroll
Trump Seeks to Delay Court Order for Release of $5.8 Million to E Jean Carroll
Legal Battle Over Payment Timeline Continues
Trump asks judge not to order - Donald Trump has formally requested that a federal judge refrain from issuing an order to release more than five million dollars held in a court-controlled account. This substantial sum represents the financial award Carroll received following her successful civil lawsuit in 2023, which addressed both sexual abuse and defamation claims against the former president. The money was originally deposited into the court's custody approximately six weeks after the jury delivered its verdict in Carroll's favor.
The total amount currently sitting in the court-controlled fund stands at roughly $5.8 million. This figure includes the original multimillion-dollar jury award alongside accumulated interest calculated at eleven percent. For these funds to be disbursed to Carroll, a judicial order must specifically direct the court-controlled fund to release the money. Throughout this entire legal process, Trump has consistently maintained that he committed no wrongdoing in the matters brought before the court.
Supreme Court Decision Triggers New Legal Developments
The current request from Trump's legal team originates from a significant ruling made by the Supreme Court on June 29. In that decision, the highest court in the nation declined to review Trump's appeal of the case. This came after multiple lower courts had previously rejected Trump's efforts to overturn the verdict against him. Following the Supreme Court's refusal to hear the appeal, Carroll's attorneys promptly approached Manhattan federal court judge Lewis Kaplan. They asked him to issue a formal order directing the release of the court-held funds.
Roberta Kaplan, who serves as the lead attorney for Carroll, emphasized the lengthy nature of this legal journey in her court filings. She stated that the time has come to conclude this matter after years of proceedings. Her argument highlighted that the existing stipulation and order already entitles Carroll to receive payment of the money owed under the judgment. This perspective reflects the position that the legal process has reached its natural conclusion.
Disagreement Over Contractual Terms
Roberta Kaplan referenced a June 2023 agreement between her client's legal team and Trump's lawyers. Under this arrangement, Trump agreed to place funds into a court-controlled account while his appeals continued. According to court papers filed by Carroll's team, this agreement clearly specified that the money would be released upon certain definitive legal developments. One such development included the United States Supreme Court refusing to hear Trump's appeal.
However, Trump's legal team has presented a different interpretation of the same agreement. They argue that Carroll's lawyers have made an incorrect reading of the contractual terms. Specifically, they contend that the agreement does not permit collection while the rehearing petition remains unresolved. This disagreement forms the central point of contention in the current legal proceedings.
"After four years of litigation across every level of the federal court system, it is time for this case to end," lead Carroll attorney Roberta Kaplan argued in court filings.
"And under the Court's Stipulation and Order, Carroll is now entitled to obtain payment of the money due under the judgment."
Trump's Arguments Against Immediate Release
In his opposition to an order that would release the funds, the president's legal team cited his July 6 petition requesting the Supreme Court to reconsider their earlier denial. His lawyers argued that issuing an order releasing the money before this petition is resolved would cause President Trump irreparable harm while not improperly disadvantaging Carroll in any way. This position suggests that premature release could create financial difficulties for Trump that might not be recoverable if the appeal succeeds.
"would cause President Trump irreparable harm while not improperly disadvantaging [Carroll'] in any way."
"does not permit collection while the rehearing petition remains unresolved."
Trump's team further claimed that if the judge does not order releasing the funds, Carroll faces only a temporary delay. They noted that any delay would be fully compensable by interest, unless the judgment is eventually overturned on appeal. According to their arguments, this has been the status quo throughout the appellate process in this case, and it must remain so pending resolution of the petition for rehearing.
"That has been the status quo throughout the appellate process in this case, and it must remain so pending resolution of the petition for rehearing," they argued.
Concerns About Fund Distribution
A particularly significant point raised by Trump's legal team involves Carroll's stated intentions regarding the money. Trump is concerned that once the funds are released, they may be distributed to third parties and become unrecoverable. His team pointed out that Carroll has repeatedly stated that she intends to give away all funds that she collects from him. This concern forms a crucial part of Trump's argument that immediate release could cause irreparable harm.
"Plaintiff has repeatedly stated that she intends to give away all funds that she collects from him, and once those funds are distributed to third parties, they likely cannot be recovered."
Trump is asking Judge Kaplan to either deny Carroll's request for an order releasing the funds or, if he does not deny it, to delay making a decision. This approach allows for additional time to resolve the pending petition for rehearing while protecting Trump's interests in the event that the Supreme Court eventually grants review of his appeal.