Congress can change the general federal rule for post-judgment interest—the interest added to a money award until payment—but it cannot order courts to undo Carroll's final, already-paid $5 million judgment. Courts can decide Trump's challenge to the separate $83.3 million judgment and control stays, security, and enforcement while that case remains live. The title therefore combines two cases at different stages. One award has been paid after Supreme Court review ended; the much larger award remains under challenge and continues to generate interest.
Table of Contents
- Which Carroll judgment remains unpaid?
- Why does interest continue during the delay?
- What can the courts do now?
- What could Congress change?
- How readers can track the dispute accurately
Which Carroll judgment remains unpaid?
A jury awarded carroll $5 million in 2023. According to the Associated Press report on the escrow payment, she received more than $5.6 million—the verdict plus interest—from escrow in July 2026. The supreme court denied Trump's petition concerning that judgment on June 29, 2026.
It denied rehearing on August 17, leaving no further Supreme Court review pending in that case. The live dispute concerns a separate $83.3 million judgment for Trump's 2019 statements. The Second Circuit affirmed it on September 8, 2025. As of August 18, 2026, Supreme Court docket No. 26-141 showed Trump's petition pending, with a response due August 31.
Why does interest continue during the delay?
Federal law requires interest on district-court money judgments from the judgment date until payment. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1961, the rate uses the preceding week's one-year Treasury yield; interest is calculated daily and compounded annually.
A stay delays collection, but it does not change the statute's payment endpoint. The Second Circuit temporarily delayed collection of the $83.3 million judgment while trump seeks Supreme Court review. The court also required a $7.4 million bond for additional post-judgment interest. That amount is security for interest generated during the extended delay, not another damages award or a reduction of the $83.3 million judgment.
What can the courts do now?
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 62 allows a judgment debtor to seek a stay using a court-approved bond or other security. It also preserves appellate courts' authority to stay proceedings during appellate review. That means courts can decide whether collection pauses, what security Trump must provide, and when enforcement may resume.
These are case-specific decisions for the judiciary, not Congress. The Supreme Court's immediate choice is whether to hear the $83.3 million case. A denial would leave the Second Circuit's ruling in place; a grant would allow Supreme Court review of the issues raised in Trump's petition.
What could Congress change?
Congress could amend the statute governing interest on federal judgments. For example, legislation could replace the Treasury-yield formula or change the compounding rule for judgments covered by the amendment. Congress faces a constitutional limit once a federal judgment is final.
In Plaut v. Spendthrift Farm, the Supreme Court held that Congress cannot command Article III courts to reopen final judgments. For the paid $5 million case, Congress therefore could not simply direct the courts to reopen and set aside the judgment. A general statutory amendment also would not itself decide Trump's pending petition or replace court orders governing the $83.3 million judgment.
How readers can track the dispute accurately
The figures identify different legal events: For the next development, check Supreme Court docket No. 26-141 for an order granting or denying review, followed by any order changing the stay or security. A proposed bill or political statement does not alter collection; an enacted law or controlling court order would be necessary.
- $5 million is the 2023 verdict; Carroll received more than $5.6 million with interest.
- $83.3 million is the separate judgment that remains under Supreme Court challenge.
- $7.4 million is the bond securing additional interest during the collection delay.