Appeals court rejects Trump's request to rehear E. Jean Carroll verdict

Key Points:

• A federal appeals court rejected former President Donald Trump's request for an en banc rehearing of the $83 million defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, allowing Trump to potentially seek Supreme Court review on presidential immunity grounds.
• The case stems from a 2024 jury verdict that found Trump defamed Carroll by denying her allegations of sexual abuse in the 1990s, with the appeals court dismissing Trump's attempt to substitute the United States as the defendant to claim immunity.
• The majority opinion emphasized that no defendant could substitute the government after judgment, while a dissent argued for rehearing to clarify presidential immunity and separation of powers issues.
• Trump's legal team condemned the decision as "Liberal Lawfare" and vowed to continue appealing, while Carroll's attorney expressed eagerness to conclude the long-running case and obtain justice.
• The case is part of broader legal challenges involving Carroll's allegations, including a separate lawsuit that awarded her $5 million under a New York law allowing civil suits for older sexual abuse claims.