DOJ Initiates Criminal Investigation into E Jean Carroll
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has commenced a criminal investigation into writer E Jean Carroll, who accused former President Donald Trump of sexual assault, according to a report by CBS News, the BBC's US partner.
The inquiry focuses on whether Carroll committed perjury related to civil lawsuits she filed against Trump, sources cited by the news outlet revealed.
Background of Carroll's Lawsuits Against Trump
Carroll, a former magazine columnist, accused Trump of sexual assault and defamation, successfully winning two lawsuits against him. Both judgments were upheld on appeal, although Trump has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the first ruling.
Trump has consistently denied the allegations. The BBC has reached out to both the DOJ and Carroll's legal representatives for comments.
In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual assault. Additionally, he was held liable for defamation due to comments he made the previous year on Truth Social.
In that post, Trump denied Carroll's claim that he attacked her in the mid-1990s inside a New York department store dressing room.
A second lawsuit in 2024 again found Trump liable for defamation regarding statements he made in 2019, accusing Carroll of fabricating the allegations to promote a book.
Trump has appealed to the US Supreme Court to overturn the initial judgment, where he was ordered to pay $5 million (£3.7 million) to Carroll. He has also pledged to appeal the second case, in which Carroll was awarded $83 million.
Details of the New Criminal Investigation
The criminal probe centers on whether Carroll provided false testimony in a 2022 deposition, where she stated she received no external funding for her civil lawsuits against Trump, a source told CBS.
Legal documents filed by Trump's attorneys in 2023 revealed that Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, contributed to some of Carroll's legal fees and expenses.
This issue was raised during the appeal process, with the court concluding that Carroll had
"plausibly represented" in her deposition "that she had forgotten about the limited outside funding counsel obtained".
The US Court of Appeals for the Second District further stated in a 2024 ruling that
"additional discovery... showed that Ms Carroll simply was not involved in the matter of who was or was not funding her litigation costs."
The investigation is being led by the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois, according to a source cited by CBS.
CNN, which initially reported the story, noted that although Carroll's deposition occurred in New York, Reid Hoffman operates a non-profit organization based in Chicago that helped cover some of Carroll's legal expenses.
The BBC has also contacted Hoffman's non-profit for comment.
Recusal and Political Context
Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche, who personally represented Trump in the appeals against Carroll, has recused himself from this investigation, a source told CBS.
Since returning to office last year, Trump has frequently urged the DOJ to prosecute various adversaries.
Separately, the DOJ recently established a $1.8 billion fund to compensate individuals deemed to have been unfairly investigated during prior administrations. However, this initiative has faced criticism from some Republicans aligned with Trump as well as Democrats.
One major concern among critics is the possibility that the fund could provide compensation to individuals who assaulted Capitol police officers during the events of 6 January.
