Donald Trump has deposited $5.6 million in compensation to E. Jean Carroll following the verdict that found him liable for sexual abuse, a payment that formally closes a chapter in a legal battle dating back to 2023 that could still unfold further in U.S. courts.

Years of legal battles and a verdict that holds

The New York jury issued its verdict in 2023 condemning the former president, who immediately deposited the money in an escrow account while appealing the decision. The case reached the Supreme Court, which just two weeks ago decided to uphold the civil judgment intact, allowing Judge Lewis Kaplan to finally order the release of the funds.

Roberta Kaplan, Carroll's attorney, confirmed the payment on Tuesday, which comprises the original $5 million plus accumulated interest during these years of litigation. According to lavanguardia.com, Carroll's attorney stated that she and her client are "pleased to report that she has received the damages payment that the jury awarded her".

Trump's side: $83 million more at stake

Although the $5.6 million deposit appears to close this chapter, the legal landscape remains open. Trump's attorneys have filed a new appeal with the intention of reversing the payment and continuing the fight in the courts.

In parallel, an even more severe judgment is pending: a separate Manhattan jury ordered the president to pay an additional $83 million to Carroll following a defamation trial in 2024. Trump continues to appeal that much larger award, meaning the legal proceedings could extend further into the future.

Persistent denial and a discrediting campaign

Throughout this process, Trump has maintained his outright denial: he insists that no sexual encounter with Carroll ever occurred. His arguments have varied and, at times, been contradictory. He first claimed he did not know her, despite a 1987 photograph showing both of them together at a party, accompanied by their then-spouses.

Later, he changed strategy and alleged that Carroll "was not his type". He also accused her of having political motivations and attempting to sell books at his expense. The former president did not appear at trial to defend himself, but he did mobilize his followers through social media to attack and discredit Carroll in a campaign that included harassment at her residence.

Carroll waits two decades to come forward

Carroll, an 82-year-old columnist, recounted in her lawsuit that the encounter in a clothing store dressing room began with some flirtation but became violent when Trump forced himself on her. What is unusual about the case is the enormous time gap: two decades passed before she filed a criminal complaint.

The reason lies in New York law. The state modified its statute relatively recently to allow sexual abuse victims to file civil suits for assaults that occurred many years prior, which opened the door for Carroll to seek justice decades after the alleged events.

How far will the litigation go?

With this $5.6 million payment, Trump has formally complied with the first judgment, but the legal war is far from over. The additional $83 million at stake in the defamation case keeps the matter in orbit, and as long as the former president's attorneys continue filing appeals, it is possible that U.S. courts will continue to rule on this dispute that combines issues of sexual abuse, defamation, and the privacy rights of public figures.