Personal lawyers for U.S. President Donald Trump have appealed to the Supreme Court to reject an $83.3 million defamation penalty awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll. Separately, representatives for the Department of Justice filed a similar petition this week, seeking the same outcome.

Both argue that Trump's statements against Carroll fall within the bounds of his office's immunity. Federal lawyers cited the Westfall Act, which shields federal employees from certain civil lawsuits when the alleged harm was committed within the scope of their employment. They warned that without Supreme Court intervention, the sitting president faces nearly $100 million in personal liability for conduct within his federal office.

Trump's personal lawyers suggested his remarks about Carroll could fall under the precedent set in the 2024 Supreme Court case Trump v. United States, which expanded presidential immunity to include 'presumptive immunity' for any action that could be considered an 'official act.' However, that precedent applies only to criminal prosecution, not civil cases like Carroll's.

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected this approach on September 8, 2024. In appealing to the Supreme Court, Trump's legal team argued that his statements were made as part of presidential interactions with the public and reporters, thus constituting official acts. They also accused lower courts of sidestepping the immunity question.

Carroll first accused Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room in 1996. Trump has denied the allegations, saying 'This woman is not my type.' In 2023, a jury awarded Carroll $5 million for sexual abuse and defamation. In January 2024, another jury awarded $83.3 million, largely in punitive damages, for defamation.

The Supreme Court declined to hear Trump's appeal of the $5 million verdict in June. It remains unclear whether the court will take up the appeal of the $83.3 million verdict.

Source: www.aljazeera.com