Appeals court closes out Trump’s bid to overturn Carroll verdict

CORRECTION: Thursday’s mandate affirmed a June ruling that began a 90-day-clock for Trump to appeal the appeals court decision from last year. The appeals court last year had upheld a jury’s verdict finding Trump liable of sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. An earlier story included incorrect information.

A federal appeals court on Thursday formally closed out President Trump’s appeal of a jury’s verdict finding him liable of sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll.

The mandate reaffirms the 90-day clock for Trump to appeal the case to the Supreme Court after the court last month rejected Trump’s bid to overturn the verdict.

A three-judge panel on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the verdict late last year, keeping intact Carroll’s $5 million judgment over claims Trump sexually abused her at a New York City department store in the mid-1990s. He denies her allegations.

Thursday’s mandate was issued after the full 2nd Circuit last month rejected Trump’s bid to overturn the three-judge panel’s ruling.

“Thursday, July 10th, 2025 So long, Old Man! The United States Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, bids thee farewell,” Carroll wrote in a social media post celebrating the mandate. 

A White House spokesperson described Carroll’s case as “liberal lawfare” in a statement sent to CNBC.

“The American People are supporting President Trump in historic numbers, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoaxes, the defense of which the Attorney General has determined is legally required to be taken over by the Department of Justice because Carroll based her false claims on the President’s official acts, including statements from the White House,” the spokesperson told the outlet.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. 

Updated July 12 at 8:02 p.m. EDT.