More than US$5 million (NZ$8.6m) has been transferred to E Jean Carroll, a significant move in a protracted legal battle with President Donald Trump coming three years after a jury found he had sexually abused and defamed the former magazine writer.

More than $80 million owed to Carroll is still in dispute in a different case.

The payment comes three years after a jury found President Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the writer.