E. Jean Carroll’s Legal Victory and Financial Relief

E. Jean Carroll reacted to receiving over $5.6 million from a civil verdict that held former President Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. Public documents confirmed that $5,625,005.48, which includes the initial $5 million award and interest, was transferred to Carroll’s legal team before reaching her.

In a post on Substack titled The Eagle Has Landed, Carroll shared the news of the payment and expressed gratitude to her lawyers for their dedication throughout the extensive legal proceedings. She also directed a pointed message at Alina Habba, Trump’s attorney during key phases of the case. “And … a special, special thanks to Alina Habba Esq.! I could not have done it without you,” Carroll remarked, seemingly in jest, toward Habba’s prominent role in defending Trump during the lawsuits.

We are pleased to report that she has received the damages payment the jury awarded her as a result of that verdict.

Newsweek sought comments from Carroll and Habba.

Background: Who Is E. Jean Carroll?

Carroll is a journalist, author, and former advice columnist for Elle. She accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York City. Trump denied these allegations and claimed he did not know Carroll. Carroll went public with her accusations in 2019, leading to protracted legal challenges resulting in multiple civil trials where Trump consistently refused wrongdoing.

This legal dispute emerged as one of Trump’s major legal battles prior to his return to politics, concluding in two significant jury verdicts favoring Carroll.

The Legal Case Against Trump

Carroll’s case against Trump comprised separate allegations of sexual abuse and defamation. In a 2023 trial, a federal jury found Trump legally responsible for abusing Carroll and defaming her following her public accusations. The jurors awarded $5 million to Carroll. While Trump was not held legally responsible for rape under New York law, he was found liable for sexual abuse.

Another defamation trial in 2024 concluded with a jury awarding Carroll $83.3 million, citing Trump’s continued defamatory statements. Trump appealed both decisions, but courts consistently rejected these attempts.

The $5.6 Million Settlement

The recent payment pertains to the first jury’s ruling, which awarded Carroll $5 million in 2023. The total transfer of $5,625,005.48 accounts for accumulated interest during the appeals. The payment proceeded after the Supreme Court opted not to intervene and as lower courts upheld the original verdict.

Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, emphasized the payment as the culmination of a persistent effort to enforce the jury’s judgment, affirming the jury’s decision from three years earlier.

Profile: Alina Habba

Alina Habba is a New Jersey attorney known for representing Trump in Carroll’s lawsuit and other prominent cases, establishing her as a visible member of Trump’s legal team. Prior to this role, Habba served as the interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Carroll’s brief mention of Habba in The Eagle Has Landed post seemed to be a playful acknowledgment of her involvement, with Carroll’s victory resulting in significant financial restitution.