Judge orders release of $5.8 million to E Jean Carroll

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the immediate release of nearly $5.8 million to writer E. Jean Carroll, rejecting a last-minute attempt by President Donald Trump to delay payment of a 2023 civil judgment. The order from U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan directs the court clerk to disburse the $5 million in damages awarded by a jury, plus accrued interest, from a court-controlled escrow account to Carroll’s attorneys.

The ruling came less than a day after Trump’s legal team filed a motion arguing the funds should remain frozen. They contended that because Trump had petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its June 29 decision not to hear his appeal, the judicial process was not yet final. Trump’s lawyers warned that releasing the money would cause him “irreparable harm,” noting Carroll’s stated intention to donate the funds, which they argued would make recovery impossible if the verdict were later overturned.

Judge Kaplan granted Carroll’s motion for disbursement without addressing the merits of the pending rehearing request. Within an hour of the order, Trump’s attorney filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.