Trump's $83 Million Defamation Payment to E. Jean Carroll on Hold as Supreme Court Weighs In

Hold the phone! A federal appeals court just hit the brakes on Donald Trump’s jaw-dropping $83 million defamation payout to writer E. Jean Carroll. The ruling means Trump can keep his wallet closed until the Supreme Court decides whether to take a look at this explosive case or just let it slide.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York dropped this bombshell on Monday, responding to Trump’s plea to pause a previous ruling that denied him a shot at challenging the defamation award before the full appeals court. Talk about a legal rollercoaster!

In a twist that keeps the drama alive, the court agreed to Trump’s request but with a catch: Carroll won’t object as long as Trump coughs up an additional $7.46 million to cover interest that will pile up on her award while this legal saga drags on, likely all the way to the Supreme Court.

“We are pleased that the Second Circuit conditioned the stay on President Trump posting a bond of nearly $100 million,” said Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, making it clear that they’re not backing down. Before this latest order, Trump had already upped his bond to over $91 million. The stakes just got higher!

As for Trump’s camp? They were mum when asked for comments on the appeals court’s decision late Tuesday night. But don’t think they’re sitting idle. Trump’s legal team is trying to pull a fast one by invoking a federal statute that would swap him out as the defendant, putting the U.S. government in his place. If they pull it off, Carroll’s case could be toast since you can’t sue Uncle Sam for defamation. Last month, the appeals court shot down their request for a hearing on that argument.

Let’s rewind to 2024 when a jury sided with Carroll, agreeing that Trump defamed her by repeatedly denying he sexually assaulted her in a dressing room back in the '90s. The verdict was a seismic shift in the ongoing battle between these two public figures.

Now, Trump is gearing up to take this case all the way to the Supreme Court, and he’s already asked them to consider his appeal in another $5 million defamation lawsuit that Carroll won against him. Buckle up, folks; this legal saga is far from over!