Scoop: Trump asks Supreme Court to overturn $83M judgment for E. Jean Carroll

State of play: Trump's lawyers unsuccessfully appealed the $83.3 million judgment to the federal appeals court in the 2nd Circuit.

• Now, in their filing to the Supreme Court, the president's lawyers — Robert J. Giuffra and Michael C. Martinich-Sauter — argue that the appeals court never decided whether presidential immunity applied in the case, and that the appeal was rejected on procedural grounds.
• They argue that if the ruling stands, it will constitutionally weaken future presidents by exposing them to liability for statements made while in office.

The backstory: Carroll, a New York writer, in 2019 accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. Trump denied it, setting off years of litigation.

• In May 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and for defaming her in statements he made in 2022, awarding her $5 million.

• In January 2024, a different jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million for Trump's 2019 statements.

What to watch: The Supreme Court is dealing with Carroll-related litigation for the second time in two months.

• In June, the court declined to hear Trump's appeal of the $5 million verdict.
• Trump's team has asked the court to reconsider that judgment.

Axios has reached out to Carroll's legal team for comment.