Donald Trump petitions Supreme Court to overturn $83 million Carroll defamation verdict
President Donald Trump has filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to overturn an $83.3 million defamation judgment awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump’s lawyers argue that the statements he made about Carroll in 2019 were official acts covered by the 2024 presidential‑immunity decision and the Westfall Act, and they ask that the United States government be substituted as the defendant. The Department of Justice has filed a separate supporting petition. The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had upheld the jury award and rejected the immunity claim. A prior $5 million verdict for sexual‑abuse and defamation was also denied review by the Supreme Court. The filing emphasizes that the case is “the first in our nation’s history in which a court has imposed damages liability on a president for conduct in office.”
Entities: 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals · Donald Trump · E. Jean Carroll · Mark Burnett · Penguin Random House · Presidential immunity · Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals · Steven Merryday · Supreme Court of the United States · Susanne Craig · The New York Times · U.S. Department of Justice
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Trump posted on Truth Social praising the judge’s decision and saying he will continue to hold the Times accountable. (Donald Trump)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The original complaint was dismissed for failing to plausibly allege actual malice and for being filed in the wrong venue. (U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Defendants in the case include The New York Times, Penguin Random House, reporters Susanne Craig and Ross Buettner, and author Peter Baker. (Trump’s complaint)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The lawsuit seeks $15 billion in damages for alleged defamation by The New York Times and related publishers. (Donald Trump)
- [● 3 SOURCES] U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday allowed Donald Trump to amend his defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, setting a filing deadline of August 27. (Judge Steven Merryday)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The lawsuit is filed in a federal court in Florida despite arguments it should be in New York.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Trump filed the defamation lawsuit against The New York Times in September.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Judge Steven Merryday allowed Donald Trump to amend his defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. (U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Penguin Random House is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Trump posted on Truth Social praising the judge’s decision and accusing the NYT of fake news. (Donald Trump)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The lawsuit alleges that The Apprentice contributed to Trump’s fame and that NYT articles are defamatory.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The deadline to file the amended complaint is August 27.