Judge Orders Release of Over $5 Million Due to E. Jean Carroll in Trump Case

A federal judge has ordered the release of over $5 million in damages awarded to E. Jean Carroll, who won a defamation case against Donald Trump in 2023. However, Trump’s lawyers continue to file appeals and motions, stalling the payment process.

This is part of a disturbing pattern that has emerged throughout Trump’s tenure: using every available avenue to delay or discredit those who challenge him. His repeated denials of wrongdoing in Carroll’s defamation cases and baseless claims of voter fraud demonstrate a willingness to stretch the boundaries of the law.

Trump’s latest move – seeking a Supreme Court rehearing of its decision not to hear his appeal of the $5 million case – raises questions about his motivations. Is it simply financial arithmetic, with Trump eager to avoid paying out millions in damages? Or is there something more at play?

Historically, Supreme Court rehearing petitions are rare, granted only when new evidence comes to light or if there’s been a fundamental shift in the legal landscape. Given that neither condition appears to apply here, it’s likely that Trump’s appeal is little more than a desperate attempt to buy time.

Carroll’s lawyer Roberta Kaplan has described this latest maneuver as “gamesmanship,” an effort by Trump to “buy time so he can try to concoct some new basis to put off paying.” This behavior has characterized the former President’s actions throughout this ordeal: a relentless pursuit of delay and obstruction.

In 2024, Carroll won another defamation trial against Trump, with the jury awarding her over $83 million in damages. Yet even now, as the full weight of his wrongdoing begins to take its toll on him financially, Trump continues to cling to baseless denials and seek new avenues for delay.

As Judge Lewis Kaplan noted, “it is time for [Trump] to ‘do equity’ and pay the judgement.” The American public deserves better than a President who consistently abuses the system. It’s high time for Trump to take responsibility – not just for the millions he owes Carroll but also for the erosion of trust in our institutions that has resulted from his actions.

The Supreme Court must resist Trump’s appeals and uphold the lower court’s decision, upholding the rule of law and safeguarding against the abuse of power. If we allow individuals like Trump to disregard the system and exploit loopholes, we risk undermining the foundations of our democracy. The fate of our democracy hangs in the balance – and it’s high time for us to take a stand against Trump’s endless gamesmanship.