In a significant legal blow to Donald Trump, a federal appeals court has flatly rejected the former president's final attempt to delay posting an $83.3 million bond in the defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.
The ruling from the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York means Mr Trump must immediately secure the massive financial guarantee while he appeals the jury's January verdict. The court gave no reason for its swift decision, simply labelling the request as "denied".
The Core of the Legal Battle
This case stems from Mr Trump's vehement denials of Ms Carroll's allegation that he sexually assaulted her in a New York department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. A previous jury had already found him liable for the assault in a separate trial, setting the stage for this defamation suit focused solely on his public statements.
The January trial concluded with a jury awarding Ms Carroll $83.3 million in damages—$18.3 million in compensatory damages and a staggering $65 million in punitive damages—intended to punish Mr Trump for his continued defamation and to deter future behaviour.
A Race Against Time for Trump
With this appeal rejected, Mr Trump's legal team is now in a race against the clock. They must either secure a bond for the full amount or have the cash ready to deposit with the court by Monday to prevent Ms Carroll's legal team from beginning collection efforts.
This development represents another formidable legal and financial hurdle for the former president as he campaigns for a return to the White House, while simultaneously battling multiple criminal and civil cases.
The swift denial suggests the court saw little merit in Mr Trump's arguments for a pause, indicating a tough road ahead for his broader appeal of the jury's decision.
