Appeals court denies Trump immunity in E. Jean Carroll case, setting up likely Supreme Court battle

A federal appeals ruled Monday that former President Trump cannot assert presidential immunity in the defamation lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.

The ruling by the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit denies Trump's effort to avoid civil trial next month, according to CNN. 

The judges found that Trump, now a 2024 presidential candidate, waived using presidential immunity as a defense by not raising it earlier in the litigation over Carroll’s claim that he defamed her when, as president, he denied her allegations of sexual assault.

The case is now likely headed to the Supreme Court.