Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.
Donald Trump and his legal team made a significant move in the E. Jean Carroll case. It’s one of the most closely watched legal battles involving the president. The president’s attorneys filed a new request that could delay a massive financial judgment against him as the case heads toward its next critical stage.
Donald Trump asked court to pause ruling in E. Jean Carroll case
Donald Trump asked a federal appeals court Tuesday to pause its ruling in E. Jean Carroll’s $83 million defamation case, NBC News reported. Trump wants to take the case to the Supreme Court. He asked the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to halt proceedings while he raises presidential immunity questions before the high court.
Carroll won the damages after a federal jury found that Trump had defamed her. The president had repeatedly denied her allegations of sexual abuse against him, which reportedly happened in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in 1996. Last week, the appeals court rejected Trump’s request for an “en banc” hearing by the full bench.
The president also attempted to invoke the Westfall Act to have the United States replace him as the defendant in the case. The Westfall Act shields government employees from certain lawsuits, including defamation claims, when they are acting within the scope of their official duties. Changing the defendant would nullify Carroll’s defamation case against Trump entirely.
Trump’s legal team wrote in Tuesday’s filing about a strong prospect of reversal. “There is also a fair, in fact, strong, prospect that the Supreme Court will reverse the Panel’s Westfall Act decision,” the filing stated. The team also cited “a likelihood of irreparable harm” against Trump without a temporary block.
As a response to that, Carroll’s legal team offered one condition. She wants an additional $7.46 million to cover the post-judgment interest expected to accrue during the Supreme Court proceedings. The Justice Department has agreed to approach the Supreme Court with Trump’s request. According to the Assistant Attorney General, Brett Shumate, there’s “good cause” in the request. The department plans to ask the Supreme Court to overturn the lower court’s ruling.
A three-judge panel first rejected Trump’s presidential immunity appeal in September. The president also asked the Supreme Court to hear his appeal in a separate $5 million case brought by Carroll. The appeal was filed in November after his challenges were rejected by a federal appeals court.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.
