{"id":342348,"date":"2026-05-29T07:12:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T01:42:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=342348"},"modified":"2026-05-29T07:12:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T01:42:07","slug":"doj-launches-criminal-probe-involving-e-jean-carroll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/29\/doj-launches-criminal-probe-involving-e-jean-carroll\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ Launches Criminal Probe Involving E. Jean Carroll"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Department of Justice is launching a criminal investigation that involves E. Jean Carroll<\/strong>, who previously accused President Donald Trump<\/strong> of sexual abuse.<\/p>\n

CNN<\/a> reported that the Department of Justice is looking into whether Carroll, 82, committed perjury in testimony from her two civil lawsuits against the president. Carroll previously sued Trump, 79, for allegedly sexually assaulting her in a department store dressing room within the \u201890s and for defaming her in 2019 when denying the allegations.<\/p>\n

The Justice Department\u2019s investigation focuses on an announcement Carroll made during a 2022 deposition. The journalist stated that she received no outside funding for her lawsuit. Nonetheless, it was later revealed that billionaire Reid Hoffman<\/strong> paid a few of her legal fees and expenses via his nonprofit.<\/p>\n

Attorney General Todd Blanche<\/strong> has recused himself from the probe, per the outlet. Before replacing Pam Bondi<\/strong>, Blanche worked as certainly one of Trump\u2019s personal attorneys on the Carroll case. The investigation shall be helmed by the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.<\/p>\n

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Related: <\/span>Donald Trump Ordered to Pay E. Jean Carroll $83 Million After Trial<\/span>
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\n\t\t\tDonald Trump must pay E. Jean Carroll a complete of $83.3 million in damages after defaming her in 2019. A jury ruled on Friday, January 26, that Trump, 77, must pay the journalist, 80, after disparaging her while denying her rape allegations. Carroll will receive $11 million for damage to her popularity, $7.3 million for [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A source with knowledge of the case tells Us Weekly<\/em> that Carroll is \u201cnot the topic of the investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe investigation is expounded to her deposition and perjury but it surely\u2019s more focused on Reid Hoffman\u2019s nonprofit,\u201d the insider explains.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice told Us<\/em> that they \u201cdon’t comment on investigations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Us<\/em> has reached out to Carroll\u2019s spokesperson for comment.<\/p>\n

Carroll and Trump\u2019s legal issues began in 2019 when the journalist accused him of rape. Trump vehemently denied the allegations while claiming that Carroll wasn\u2019t his type and subsequently accused her of constructing up the alleged assault to spice up sales of her book.<\/p>\n

Trump and Carroll went to trial for the primary lawsuit in 2023. A jury found that Carroll had not proven that Trump raped her, but she did prove that Trump was chargeable for a lesser degree of sexual abuse. In addition they found that Trump defamed Carroll with false statements made with actual malice. Carroll was awarded $5 million in damages from Trump. Later that 12 months, Trump appealed the decision and the judge denied his request for a brand new trial.<\/p>\n

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