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The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has reportedly initiated a criminal inquiry into E Jean Carroll, the writer who secured a $5 million civil judgement against Donald Trump in 2023. This judgement stemmed from a federal jury’s conclusion that Trump had sexually assaulted Carroll in 1996 and subsequently defamed her in 2022 by denying the allegations. The investigation aims to determine whether Carroll committed perjury during her testimony in two civil lawsuits against the former president.
Investigation Details
Sources cited by CNN suggest the focal point of the legal scrutiny is a potential falsehood in Carroll’s 2022 deposition, where she claimed not to have received external funding for her legal battle against Trump. This assertion became contentious when, just months later, Carroll’s legal team disclosed that a nonprofit funded by Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn, had contributed to her legal expenses. Carroll’s attorneys clarified that she had never interacted with anyone from the nonprofit.
As a result of this revelation, Judge Lewis Kaplan permitted Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, to conduct further questioning of Carroll in a subsequent deposition. This new line of questioning has now surfaced in a recently released documentary about Carroll titled *Ask E Jean*, which premiered in New York last week.
Legal Background and Trump’s Appeals
Carroll’s initial legal victories have seen her awarded substantial damages, with Trump appealing both the $5 million related to the sexual abuse case and an additional $83 million linked to the defamation suit. The former president has consistently sought to overturn these awards, claiming that the judgements are unfounded.
Notably, a three-judge panel from the federal appeals court in New York previously dismissed claims that Carroll had lied during her deposition. In their December 2024 ruling, the judges noted that Carroll had plausibly forgotten about the limited external funding that had been disclosed by her legal counsel in September 2020. They maintained that there was no evidence contradicting her testimony, which indicated that she had not discussed the funding with her lawyers for more than two years leading up to her deposition.
Current Legal Landscape
The investigation has been opened by Andrew Boutros, the US attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, a Trump appointee. Meanwhile, Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general who defended Trump in the Carroll case, has recused himself from the investigation. Complicating matters further, Boutros himself is under investigation following allegations regarding his conduct in a separate case involving an anti-ICE protester.
This situation places the DOJ in a complex legal and political environment, as it navigates the implications of its investigative actions amidst ongoing litigation involving a former president.
Why it Matters
The unfolding investigation into E Jean Carroll raises significant questions about the integrity of legal processes and the potential repercussions for both Carroll and Trump. If the DOJ’s inquiry leads to charges, it could set a precedent regarding the legal consequences of testimonies in civil cases, particularly those involving high-profile figures. Furthermore, this case underscores the broader implications of how allegations of sexual misconduct are treated within the judicial system, particularly as they involve powerful individuals. As the situation develops, it is poised to have lasting effects on public trust in the legal system and the accountability of those in positions of power.
