Trump Seeks to Recover $5.6 Million Paid to E. Jean Carroll After Years of Legal Battles

Just weeks after E. Jean Carroll finally received money awarded to her in a long-running civil case against Donald Trump, Trump’s legal team is making another attempt to get the payment returned.

The dispute centers on approximately $5.6 million that Carroll received in July 2026. The amount represents a $5 million jury award from 2023, plus interest that accumulated while the money remained in a court-supervised escrow account.

How did Carroll receive the money?

The payment followed years of appeals.

A federal jury in 2023 found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her after she publicly accused him. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. Trump maintained his innocence and continued challenging the verdict.

The money was deposited into an escrow account while the legal battle continued.

In June 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal of that judgment. A federal judge subsequently ordered the money released, rejecting Trump’s attempt to keep it frozen while he pursued additional legal options.

The payment was ultimately released in July, with court records showing that Carroll received more than $5.6 million including interest.

Now Trump wants the money back

Trump’s attorneys have continued challenging the underlying judgment and have asked the courts to reconsider the case.

The latest effort comes after the payment was already made, meaning the dispute has entered another stage of the lengthy legal battle. Reports describe Trump’s request as an effort to recover or prevent the payment from remaining with Carroll while his appeals continue.

This isn’t the only Carroll judgment

Carroll has another, substantially larger civil judgment against Trump.

A separate 2024 jury awarded her $83.3 million for defamation. Trump has also continued to challenge that judgment.

Together, the cases have resulted in tens of millions of dollars in civil awards, while Trump continues to deny wrongdoing and pursue legal challenges.

What happens next?

The latest request does not mean that Carroll has automatically lost the $5.6 million or that Trump has already recovered it.

It means the legal battle is continuing.

After years of litigation, appeals, and attempts to delay payment, the money was finally released to Carroll in July. Now Trump’s attorneys are asking the courts for another opportunity to change what happens to that money.

For E. Jean Carroll, what began as a years-long legal fight has now entered yet another chapter.