A federal judge in New York has ordered the release of approximately $5.8 million, including interest, that had been held in escrow following a civil judgment against Donald Trump in favor of writer E. Jean Carroll. The funds, which represent the $5 million in damages awarded by a jury in 2023 for sexual abuse and defamation, plus accrued interest, were made available to Carroll after the former president failed to successfully stay the judgment during the appeals process. According to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the move comes as the legal requirements for securing the stay were not met, permitting the court to release the security deposit.
The underlying legal dispute stems from the May 2023 verdict, in which a federal jury found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in total damages. To prevent the immediate enforcement of the judgment while he sought an appeal, Trump deposited the sum—plus interest—into a court-controlled escrow account. Under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 8, a party seeking a stay of a money judgment must typically provide a bond or other security to ensure the judgment is satisfied if the appeal fails. When the procedural hurdles for maintaining that stay were not cleared, the court authorized the distribution of the funds.
The Legal Status of the Judgment
The release of the funds marks a significant development in a case that has spanned several years. Following the 2023 jury decision, Trump’s legal team filed multiple motions to delay payment, including requests for a new trial and challenges to the amount awarded. However, the presiding judge, Lewis Kaplan, denied these efforts, affirming the jury’s findings. As noted in official court dockets, the failure to secure a stay of execution on the judgment meant the stay of enforcement expired, allowing Carroll’s legal representatives to move for the release of the escrowed funds.
This development is distinct from a separate, larger defamation case involving Carroll and Trump, in which a jury awarded Carroll a multi-million dollar sum in January 2024. In that instance, Trump was required to post a bond—covering the judgment plus interest—to stay the execution of that specific award while he appealed. The $5.8 million currently released concerns only the initial 2023 civil liability verdict.
Next Steps in the Litigation
Despite the release of the funds, the broader legal battle remains active. Donald Trump has consistently denied the allegations made by E. Jean Carroll, characterizing the proceedings as politically motivated. His legal team has continued to file appeals regarding the underlying liability and the damages awarded. According to filings with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the appeals process for the 2023 verdict is ongoing, meaning that while Carroll is now entitled to the funds from the escrow account, the finality of the court’s judgment remains subject to the outcome of these higher court reviews.
The court has not scheduled further hearings regarding the disbursement of these specific funds, as the order for their release effectively concludes the handling of the escrow account related to the 2023 verdict. Future actions will focus on the appellate briefs submitted by both parties. As is standard practice in federal civil litigation, updates regarding the appellate schedule will be posted to the court’s electronic filing system, which serves as the primary source for case status. Readers interested in the progress of the appeal can monitor the Second Circuit’s docket for upcoming motions or briefing deadlines.