Trump WINS! Shocking Appeals Court Ruling in E. Jean Carroll Case
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump is not required to pay an $83 million defamation judgment awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll while the case awaits further review by the U.S. Supreme Court. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York issued the order on Monday after Trump’s legal team requested a pause on an earlier appellate decision that had denied him the opportunity to seek rehearing before the full court.
The appeals court granted the stay on the condition that Trump increase the existing bond by $7.46 million to account for accruing interest on the award during the anticipated proceedings. With the adjustment, the total bond now exceeds $91 million. Attorneys for Carroll confirmed there was no objection to the stay provided the bond was increased.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, stated that the legal team was satisfied with the condition requiring the additional bond. Trump’s attorneys have been pursuing a separate legal strategy that would substitute the U.S. government as the defendant in the defamation lawsuit. If successful, the move could potentially resolve the case because the federal government is generally immune from defamation claims under existing law.
The underlying case stems from a 2024 jury verdict in which Carroll prevailed on claims that Trump defamed her by denying allegations of sexual abuse in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room during the 1990s. Trump has consistently denied the accusations, describing the case as a “complete con job” and stating that Carroll was “not my type.” His legal team has argued that the allegations were politically motivated and lacked corroborating evidence such as physical proof, eyewitness testimony, or contemporaneous police reports. They have also highlighted that Carroll waited more than two decades to make the claims public.
Trump is separately seeking Supreme Court review of a related $5 million judgment in another defamation case brought by Carroll. The Supreme Court is expected to consider petitions involving that matter during its private conference. In filings, Trump’s attorneys described Carroll’s account as “facially implausible” and contended that certain evidentiary rulings during the trial were improper.
The appeals court’s decision to grant the stay provides temporary relief for Trump while higher court proceedings continue. Legal observers note that such stays are not uncommon in high-profile civil cases involving public figures when significant constitutional or procedural questions are raised. The developments reflect ongoing litigation stemming from Carroll’s 2019 book in which she first publicly detailed the allegations against Trump.
The case has drawn national attention as part of broader discussions about defamation law, presidential immunity, and the intersection of politics and civil litigation. Supporters of Trump have described the lawsuits as examples of politically motivated legal actions, while Carroll’s legal team has maintained that the verdicts were based on evidence presented at trial and upheld through the appellate process.
As the matter heads toward potential Supreme Court consideration, both sides continue to prepare arguments on the merits of the underlying claims and the procedural steps taken thus far. The outcome could have implications not only for the parties involved but also for future cases addressing similar issues of defamation and official conduct.
The ruling comes amid a series of legal challenges facing the Trump administration as it advances its policy agenda. Legal experts anticipate additional filings and potential further appeals as the case progresses through the federal court system. No timeline has been set for Supreme Court action, though the high court typically issues orders on certiorari petitions within weeks of its conferences.
The developments are being closely monitored by legal analysts and political observers as they unfold against the backdrop of ongoing national debates over civil liability, free speech, and the role of the judiciary in high-profile disputes.
IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE — Nightmare Brewing for Hakeem Jeffries as He Could Be OUT After Facing Heat From Dems...
Washington, D.C. - June 3, 2026
Hakeem Jeffries Encounters Growing Reluctance from Democratic Candidates to Back His Leadership
Washington, D.C. — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is facing increasing resistance from Democratic candidates who are declining to commit to supporting his leadership if the party regains the House majority in November.
A significant number of viable Democratic challengers have indicated to Axios that voting for Jeffries as speaker would not be automatic. Last fall, more than 80 Democratic House candidates expressed uncertainty or outright opposition to his continued leadership. The situation has worsened in recent months.
Mai Vang, a progressive primary challenger to Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), previously offered a noncommittal response about supporting whoever her future colleagues choose. In a more recent statement, she directly criticized Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“The Democratic Party and its leadership—Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries—have failed to mobilize meaningful opposition to Trump’s illegal war and their silence as AIPAC and corporations flood Congressional primaries with millions of dollars is deafening,” Vang said.
Claire Valdez, a New York State Assembly member running to replace retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), told Axios that supporting Jeffries would require “some conversations” first.
Other candidates have proposed alternatives. Anabel Mendoza, a progressive running in Illinois’ 7th District, said she would prefer Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) in the leadership role because she is “10 toes down on what matters.”
Some candidates noted that conversations about Jeffries’ future would likely change significantly if Democrats fail to win the House.
Jeffries is also confronting a sharply deteriorating redistricting environment. After initial Democratic optimism following a Virginia referendum victory aimed at gaining up to four seats, recent legal and political developments have turned against the party. In a worst-case scenario, Democrats could lose as many as 10 seats due to aggressive Republican redistricting and court rulings.
Florida Republicans advanced a congressional map that could eliminate up to four Democratic seats, surprising even some GOP observers. Virginia’s Supreme Court has signaled it may overturn the Democrats’ hard-won referendum win. The Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais has created new opportunities for Republicans in several Southern states.
In Tennessee, GOP lawmakers have circulated a map targeting Rep. Steve Cohen’s Memphis seat. Louisiana Republicans are positioned to reduce Democratic representation in the state. Alabama officials are seeking to lift an injunction protecting the current map. South Carolina is considering a map that would eliminate Rep. Jim Clyburn’s deeply blue seat. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has expressed interest in challenging Rep. Bennie Thompson.
While some maps remain subject to legal challenges and Democrats hope to compete in certain districts, the overall trajectory has shifted against the party. The combination of internal leadership doubts and unfavorable redistricting has created substantial uncertainty for Jeffries and House Democrats heading into the midterms.
Iranian State TV Announces Death Of Khamenei’s Wife After US Israeli Airstrike
Iranian state television presenters announced the death of Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, the 79-year-old wife of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after she succumbed to injuries sustained in the same US-Israeli airstrike that killed her husband at his compound in Tehran.
She died two days after Khamenei was killed, The Wall Street Journal reported. State television declared that Bagherzadeh’s “long dream of martyrdom became true” and said her death would spark “a massive uprising in the fight against oppressors.”
The announcement followed an earlier broadcast in which an anchor tearfully reported the Supreme Leader’s death. Iran declared an official 40-day mourning period and a seven-day national holiday.
According to the Daily Mail, Bagherzadeh married Khamenei in 1965. They had four sons and two daughters.
In a 2011 interview with state media, she described her role as maintaining a calm home environment so her husband could work in peace.
“I think my biggest role was to preserve a calm atmosphere in our home so that he could do his work in peace,” she said.
She also said she visited him in prison without burdening him with family problems and “would only give him good news.”
She acknowledged distributing pamphlets, carrying messages, and hiding documents during the revolutionary period but described those efforts as “not worth mentioning.”
Her death comes amid escalating military exchanges between Iran and US-Israeli forces.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society said at least 555 people have been killed across Iran in the campaign, with more than 130 cities coming under attack.
Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Reza Najafi, condemned the strikes as “unlawful, criminal and brutal” and alleged that the Natanz nuclear enrichment site was targeted.
“Their justification that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons is simply a big lie,” Najafi told journalists.
Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian security official, wrote on X that “we will not negotiate with the United States.”
Iran is believed to have launched multiple retaliatory attacks across the region.
An attack reportedly struck the American embassy compound in Kuwait City, though there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Kuwaiti air defenses mistakenly shot down three American F 15E Strike Eagles.
US Central Command confirmed that all six aircrew ejected safely, were recovered, and are in stable condition.
A pro-Iranian militia in Iraq launched attacks targeting Irbil and a British base in Cyprus. Officials in Oman said a drone boat struck an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman near Muscat, killing one mariner.
Saudi Aramco temporarily shut down its Ras Tanura oil refinery near Dammam after Iranian drones targeted it.
Saudi state television described the shutdown as “a precautionary one.”
Officials reported 11 people killed in Israel and 31 in Lebanon during the exchanges.
Iran’s combat fleet was engaged in the conflict for the first time.
Iranian officials have framed Bagherzadeh’s death as an act of martyrdom as the country enters a prolonged mourning period.
The conflict continues to evolve as regional tensions remain high.
A senior White House official stated on Sunday that Iran’s “new potential leadership” has indicated a willingness to engage in talks with the United States. This announcement follows a significant military operation by American and Israeli forces, which resulted in the deaths of Iran’s supreme leader and several high-ranking officials, according to Fox News.
The official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal administration matters, mentioned that President Donald Trump is “eventually” open to negotiations, but for the time being, the military operation “continues unabated.” The official did not specify who the potential new leaders of Iran are or how they expressed their willingness to negotiate.
Trump told The Atlantic on Sunday that he planned to speak with Iran’s new leadership.
“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them,” he said, declining comment on the timing.
