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President Trump requests Supreme Court to overturn $83 million defamation verdict won by E. Jean Carroll

President Donald Trump and the Justice Department are seeking a Supreme Court ruling to overturn an $83 million defamation verdict awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll. The administration announced that the president is immune from personal liability for comments made during his first term, arguing that his statements regarding Carroll's sexual assault claims were official acts performed in his capacity as president. Trump's lawyers contend that the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals failed to address this immunity, calling the damages "grossly excessive." They are also requesting that the United States government be substituted as the defendant under the Westfall Act, which shields federal employees from being sued for their official duties. The verdict follows a 2023 jury finding that Trump was liable for sexual abuse and defamation, for which he was awarded $5 million. While the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal on that $5 million verdict, the new appeal focuses on the 2019 statements where Trump dismissed Carroll's claims as a "hoax." The high court is expected to review the petition in the fall.

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