The U.S. Supreme Court has dealt another major legal setback to Donald Trump, rejecting his latest attempt to overturn a $5 million civil judgment involving writer E. Jean Carroll.

What happened?

E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department-store dressing room in the 1990s. Trump has consistently denied the allegation.

In May 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation and ordered him to pay Carroll approximately $5 million in damages.

This was a civil case, not a criminal trial. Trump was therefore not criminally convicted or sentenced to prison as a result of the verdict.

Supreme Court rejects Trump's latest appeal

Trump continued challenging the verdict through the courts.

On August 17, 2026, the Supreme Court rejected his request to reconsider its earlier refusal to hear his appeal. The justices did not provide an explanation, which is typical when the court denies a request for rehearing.

The decision leaves the $5 million verdict standing and ends Trump's avenue for Supreme Court review of that particular judgment.

What about the "rape" claim?

The viral image circulating online says that Trump "raped a woman" and that she "won" in court.

That wording needs some clarification.

The jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse, not rape under the specific New York legal definition presented to it. However, Judge Lewis Kaplan later said the jury's finding was consistent with what the word "rape" means in ordinary modern language.

Another $83.3 million case

Trump's legal battle with Carroll isn't completely over.

A separate case resulted in an $83.3 million defamation award against Trump in 2024. That separate judgment concerns statements Trump made about Carroll after she publicly accused him. His challenge to that judgment remains a separate legal matter.

Bottom line

Donald Trump has lost his latest attempt to overturn the $5 million E. Jean Carroll civil verdict.

The Supreme Court's latest decision means the jury's finding that Trump was liable for sexual abuse and defamation remains in place.

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