Justice Department Investigates E. Jean Carroll Over Alleged Perjury
The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into E. Jean Carroll, a prominent advice columnist, regarding potential false statements made during civil litigation against former President Donald Trump. This information comes from a source familiar with the investigation who requested anonymity due to the ongoing nature of the inquiry.
Federal prosecutors in Chicago are conducting the investigation, while acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, due to his previous role as Trump’s attorney, is not involved. Carroll’s legal team declined to comment on the matter.
This investigation adds to a series of probes initiated by Trump’s Justice Department against individuals deemed adversarial to the former president. Actions such as the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey have led to concerns about the potential politicization of prosecutorial decisions, typically expected to remain independent from the White House.
Carroll has accused Trump of sexual assault, claiming the incident occurred during an encounter at Bergdorf Goodman’s store in Manhattan in 1996. Trump has labeled these allegations as a “made-up scam,” attributing them to political motives or efforts to bolster Carroll’s memoir sales.
In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation against Carroll, resulting in a $5 million award. The subsequent year, another jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million following a defamation case linked to Trump’s social media comments.
The Justice Department’s current focus is on Carroll’s statement during the civil case, claiming that no external party funded her legal fees. It was later revealed that an organization backed by Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn’s co-founder, had contributed to her legal expenses. Trump’s legal team argued this concealed information suggested political motivations behind the case.
Prior to the 2023 trial, Trump’s then-lawyer, Alina Habba, attempted to delay proceedings, citing revelations about Hoffman’s financial support as potentially impacting Carroll’s credibility and motivations for the lawsuit.
In a ruling on December 30, 2024, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the $5 million jury award from 2023, addressing Carroll’s credibility after Trump accused her of lying about her case’s funding during a deposition. The court noted Carroll’s initial forgetfulness regarding the “limited outside funding” in 2020.
“It showed that Ms. Carroll simply was not involved in the matter of who was or was not funding her litigation costs,” the appeals court stated. Hoffman defended his financial assistance on social media, expressing his commitment to supporting women’s rights and combating Trump’s influence.
A recent court entry stated that Trump’s payment of the award is on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court reviews the case. Trump has posted a $7.4 million bond to cover any potential interest costs, as requested by Carroll’s attorney, while awaiting further court decisions.
The investigation into Carroll was initially reported by CNN.
