President Trump takes his fight against what his legal team calls “Democrat-funded lawfare” to the nation’s highest court, asking the Supreme Court to overturn a $5 million judgment in the E. Jean Carroll case that his lawyers argue was built on politically motivated accusations without evidence.
Story Highlights
- Trump requests Supreme Court review of $5 million Carroll civil judgment for sexual abuse and defamation.
- The legal team argues that the case lacks eyewitnesses, video evidence, or a police investigation.
- Filing claims Carroll waited over 20 years to “falsely accuse” Trump for political and financial gain.
- Federal appeals court previously upheld judgment and denied Trump’s rehearing request.
Supreme Court Appeal Filed Against Controversial Judgment
President Donald Trump’s legal team filed a petition with the Supreme Court on Monday, November 10, 2025, seeking review of a $5 million civil judgment that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll.
The 2023 jury verdict stemmed from Carroll’s allegations that Trump assaulted her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996. Trump’s lawyers argue the case represents a fundamental miscarriage of justice built on accusations lacking any corroborating evidence.
Trump is asking the SCOTUS to overturn the verdict that claims he sexually abused and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll
‘There were no eyewitnesses, no video evidence, and no police report or investigation’ — CNN citing appeal pic.twitter.com/CZQfsqvBNn
— RT (@RT_com) November 10, 2025
Legal Team Challenges Evidence Standards
Trump’s attorneys emphasized the complete absence of supporting evidence in their Supreme Court filing.
“There were no eyewitnesses, no video evidence, and no police report or investigation,” the legal team wrote, highlighting what conservatives view as a dangerous precedent for convicting prominent figures based solely on decades-old allegations.
The filing further argues that Carroll’s timing was strategically calculated to maximize political damage and personal profit, waiting more than two decades to make her accusations public.
Political Warfare Allegations Surface
The legal filing directly addresses what Trump supporters see as coordinated political attacks through the judicial system.
“Instead, Carroll waited more than 20 years to falsely accuse Donald Trump, who she politically opposes, until after he became the 45th president, when she could maximize political injury to him and profit for herself,” Trump’s lawyers stated.
A spokesman for Trump’s legal team characterized the case as part of broader “Democrat-funded” efforts to undermine the president through frivolous litigation designed to distract from his governing agenda.
Appeals Court Previously Rejected Trump’s Arguments
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judgment in December 2024, rejecting Trump’s argument that U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan erred by allowing testimony from Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, two women whose sexual abuse allegations Trump has denied.
The appeals panel found that Judge Kaplan had not “abused his discretion” in permitting their testimony. Trump’s request for a rehearing was denied in June 2025, leading to the current Supreme Court petition.
Broader Pattern of Legal Challenges
This Supreme Court appeal represents part of Trump’s ongoing efforts to overturn what his supporters characterize as politically motivated judgments. Trump has consistently sought to have Carroll’s cases dismissed, including a separate $83 million defamation judgment related to comments he made while president.
That appeal failed in September 2025, demonstrating the uphill battle Trump faces in reversing these verdicts. Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, declined to comment on the latest Supreme Court filing, while it remains unclear whether the high court will agree to hear the case.
