[Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported the date the appeals court panel's decision upholding the jury's verdict in the case was issued. The story has been updated with the correct timing of that decision and to report that on Thursday the appeals court issued a mandate confirming the verdict and that the mandate starts a clock for Trump to ask the Supreme Court to accept his appeal.]

A federal appeals court in New York on Thursday officially affirmed the jury verdict that found President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the writer E. Jean Carroll, starting the clock for Trump to ask the Supreme Court to overturn the decision and its order that he pay her $5 million in damages.

The 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals issued the mandate affirming the verdict weeks after that same court rejected a bid by Trump to have the full judicial lineup in the circuit rehear his appeal of the 2023 Manhattan federal court jury verdict.

A three-judge panel of the circuit in December ruled against Trump's appeal of the jury verdict.

Trump now has 90 days to ask the Supreme Court to hear his appeal. There is no automatic right to appeal to the Supreme Court.

A legal spokesperson for Trump, in a statement to CNBC, said, "The American People are supporting President Trump in historic numbers, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoaxes, the defense of which the Attorney General has determined is legally required to be taken over by the Department of Justice because Carroll based her false claims on the President's official acts, including statements from the White House."

"President Trump will keep winning against Liberal Lawfare, as he is focusing on his mission to Make America Great Again," the spokesperson said.