Justice Department wants to step in for Trump in E. Jean Carroll ...
The Department of Justice wants to stand in for President Trump in his ongoing appeal of a defamation case that could cost him tens of millions of dollars.
www.cbsnews.comHere’s the latest as of May 2026: a federal appeals court upheld an $83.3 million damages award against former President Donald Trump in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, after Carroll had previously alleged sexual assault by Trump and won a separate verdict on that claim; Trump has indicated pursuit of further appeals, potentially to the Supreme Court. The defense has pressed for reductions or a new trial but the appellate court affirmed the damages and the underlying rulings that Trump’s statements were defamatory, with the court finding the damages reasonable given the harm to Carroll. In parallel, there have been ongoing developments about whether the Department of Justice will participate in the appeal on Trump’s behalf, but public reporting has indicated renewed DOJ involvement discussions rather than a definitive replacement of his legal representation in the defamation appeal.[2][3][4][8]
Key context
- Two related cases: Carroll v. Trump (defamation) and Carroll v. Trump (sexual assault claim) were consolidated in various proceedings; a jury awarded Carroll $5 million in the first trial for sexual abuse and defamation, and later, after further proceedings, a much larger damages award for defamation was upheld on appeal.[3][5]
- The May 2023 verdict found Trump liable for a lesser degree of sexual abuse and for defaming Carroll with actual malice; a total of $5 million was awarded in that earlier round, which set the stage for later damages discussions.[3]
- The 2025-2025-2026 developments culminated in the $83.3 million appellate award, comprising compensatory and punitive components, with the appellate panel rejecting Trump’s arguments that the district court erred in the proceedings or that the damages were excessive given the defamation’s impact.[4]
What this means for you
- If you’re tracking the case for legal or news purposes, expect further filings as Trump’s team contemplates additional appellate steps; however, as of May 2026, the appellate ruling upholding the $83.3 million remains in force unless a higher court intervenes.[4]
- Public commentary and coverage emphasize the ongoing legal strategy rather than imminent resolution, so follow reliable outlets for any new docket entries or petitions to the Supreme Court.[8][4]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent docket entries or summarize the appellate decision’s key holdings in plain language, with direct quotes and page references.
Citations
- Appellate upholding of $83.3 million judgment and discussion of damages.[4]
- Background on the initial verdict and damages in 2023-2024 period.[5][3]
- DOJ involvement discussions in the appeal context.[8]