Trump delays $5m sexual abuse payout to Jean Carroll; latter senses conspiracy

Donald Trump is seeking additional time to pay the $5 million civil judgment awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll for sexual abuse and defamation. Carroll's legal team has characterized the request as "yet another play for time."

Trump's lawyers submitted a request to a federal court asking for an extension until July 14. They cited the need for his new lead counsel, Josh Halpern, to familiarize himself with the case following the departure of former attorney Justin Smith, who is now a federal judge. A jury in 2023 found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in 1996 and subsequently defaming her after she publicly accused him in 2019. The initial award was $5 million, but with accrued interest, the total amount has grown to nearly $5.8 million.

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appears to be little more than yet another play for time

Trump initially deposited the funds into an escrow account but is now seeking to delay their release. Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, argued that Trump has had ample time to secure new legal representation. She suggested the extension request is intended to provide a window for Trump to initiate new legal maneuvers, including potentially asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the judgment and consider an appeal in a separate $83 million defamation case.

"We can only assume that Defendant is seeking ... to buy time so he can try to concoct some new basis to put off paying Plaintiff presumably in connection with his forthcoming petition and motion for a rehearing," Kaplan was quoted as saying by The Guardian. Trump has consistently denied Carroll's allegations, maintaining that the civil judgments are politically motivated. He has vowed to continue fighting the case, even after the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal.

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We can only assume that Defendant is seeking … to buy time so he can try to concoct some new basis to put off paying Plaintiff presumably in connection with his forthcoming petition and motion for a rehearing.