President Donald Trump has enlisted the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist in his appeal of a $83.3 million defamation judgment owed to former Elle magazine advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. The DOJ has filed a motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, requesting permission to directly represent Trump in the appeal.
The DOJ argues that Trump acted as a government employee when he first defamed Carroll in 2019. If approved, the case would be renamed from Trump v. Carroll to U.S. v. Carroll.
This development follows Trump’s recent loss in his appeal effort to avoid paying Carroll the judgment. Trump’s legal team has also cited presidential immunity and potential harm to Carroll—who has stated she would donate the funds upon collection—as reasons for the court to delay payment.
The DOJ’s involvement in a personal lawsuit stemming from a 2023 finding of sexual abuse liability against Trump has drawn criticism. Critics argue that the federal government’s use of taxpayer funds to support a personal legal matter sets a concerning precedent, though such actions have become a recurring theme during Trump’s presidency.
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