2nd Circuit Denies Trump Request in Carroll Defamation Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit denied President Donald Trump's motion to substitute the United States government as the defendant in writer E. Jean Carroll's $83 million defamation lawsuit, ruling the request was untimely and waived. Trump had argued that his statements about Carroll, denying her sexual assault allegations, were made in his official capacity as president and thus protected under the Westfall Act, which shields federal employees from personal liability for acts within their official duties. However, the court found the motion statutorily barred, as it was filed after trial and after the Department of Justice withdrew its earlier certification that Trump acted within the scope of his employment. The panel emphasized that allowing substitution at this late stage would disrupt years of litigation and potentially erase Carroll's substantial jury victory. The ruling leaves Trump personally liable for the damages and closes the door on a taxpayer-funded appeal of the defamation case. The decision was authored by a panel of judges appointed by Democratic presidents and underscores the court's emphasis on procedural fairness and equity in this high-profile legal battle.