Trump Seeks to Delay $5 Million Payment to E. Jean Carroll
Former President Donald Trump has filed a last-minute motion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to delay the payment of a $5 million judgment to writer E. Jean Carroll. This action comes after the Supreme Court denied Trump's appeal on June 29, 2026, leaving a 2023 jury verdict intact that found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation.
Carroll's legal team, led by Roberta Kaplan, filed a motion on July 1, 2026, to release $5,779,783 held in escrow, which includes the original judgment amount plus post-judgment interest. Trump's attorneys argued that the change in his legal representation, with former lead counsel Justin Smith confirmed to a federal judgeship, necessitated a delay.
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan denied Trump's request for a delay on July 4, 2026, in a text-only order. The judge has required Trump to either proceed with the payment by the new deadline or provide further arguments for his request.