On Monday, President Trump petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling against him in a case involving E. Jean Carroll. In 2023, a Manhattan jury found Trump liable for alleged sexual abuse against Carroll and ordered him to pay $5 million. A federal appeals court upheld the decision last year, prompting Trump’s latest appeal.

Trump’s petition argues that the verdict lacks evidence, citing no eyewitnesses, video footage, or police reports. He claimed Carroll waited over 20 years to accuse him, alleging her actions were politically motivated. “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 stated in court filings.

The appeal has not yet been formally processed by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, a separate jury found Trump liable for defaming Carroll in 2022, ordering $83 million in damages. A federal appeals court affirmed that ruling, rejecting claims of presidential immunity. Trump’s legal team has requested the full bench to review the case, with Carroll’s response due soon.

The litigation marks the first time the Supreme Court has been involved in Trump’s cases against Carroll, who has secured a total of $88.3 million in damages through two trials. The initial 2023 verdict centered on alleged abuse in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. A subsequent jury awarded additional damages for defamation.

Critics argue the case lacks credible evidence, with Carroll failing to provide dates or corroborating details for her claims. The trial has been labeled a “political witch hunt” by supporters of Trump, who urge the Supreme Court to dismiss the verdict entirely.