E. Jean Carroll recently expressed amusement with former Trump attorney Alina Habba after receiving over $5.6 million as a result of a civil verdict. This verdict found Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. Court records indicate that Carroll’s legal team was initially disbursed $5,625,005.48, which comprised the original $5 million award plus accrued interest, before transferring it to Carroll.
In a Substack post titled The Eagle Has Landed, Carroll celebrated the arrival of the funds and extended thanks to her legal representatives involved in the protracted battle. She notably directed a message towards Habba, Trump’s attorney during crucial phases of the case. Carroll’s comment seemed to be a playful dig at Habba, who was a prominent figure in Trump’s defense during the legal proceedings.
Donald Trump’s appeals to overturn the 2023 jury verdict favoring Carroll were unsuccessful. Carroll and Habba have been contacted by Newsweek for comments.
Background on E. Jean Carroll
E. Jean Carroll is recognized as a journalist, author, and former advice columnist for Elle. She alleged that Trump sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s at Manhattan’s Bergdorf Goodman department store. Trump denied any wrongdoing and claimed he did not know Carroll. Her public accusation in 2019 initiated a lengthy legal struggle, resulting in multiple civil trials, and emerged as a significant legal battle surrounding Trump.
During Carroll’s claim, separate allegations of sexual abuse and defamation were made. In May 2023, a federal jury found Trump culpable for both sexually abusing and defaming Carroll after she made her accusation publicly. The jurors awarded her $5 million in damages. Trump was found liable for sexual abuse but not rape according to New York regulations.
The legal battle extended further when a separate jury in January 2024 awarded Carroll $83.3 million as Trump continued defamation through public denials of her claims. These decisions substantially increased Trump’s financial accountability.
Despite attempts to appeal both verdicts, the courts repeatedly upheld them.
Details of the Financial Settlement
The recently received payment directly pertains to the first jury ruling in 2023 which awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. Court documents reveal the transferred amount increased to $5,625,005.48 due to interest accrued throughout the appeals. The financial settlement arrived after the Supreme Court declined involvement and lower courts maintained the verdict.
Carroll’s statement “The Eagle has landed” underscored the completion of the financial transaction.
Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney, mentioned that the payment signifies the conclusion of prolonged efforts to retain the jury’s decision. She stated, “Three years ago, a unanimous nine-person jury found President Trump liable for sexually assaulting and defaming E. Jean Carroll. Today, we are pleased to report that she has received the damages payment the jury awarded her as a result of that verdict.”
Profile on Alina Habba
Alina Habba gained prominence as a New Jersey lawyer, notably representing Trump during Carroll’s civil proceedings and other significant legal matters. Her frequent court and media appearances made Habba a prominent representative of Trump’s legal team.
Before resigning in 2025, she briefly held the position of interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Carroll’s reference to Habba in the celebratory post The Eagle Has Landed was likely a humorous acknowledgment of Habba’s involvement in the litigation resulting in judgments favoring Carroll.