The U.S. Department of Justice has reportedly initiated a criminal investigation into former magazine writer E. Jean Carroll, focusing on potential perjury during her testimony in two civil lawsuits against President Donald Trump. Carroll accused President Trump of sexually assaulting her in a New York department store in the 1990s, which he has denied. She also filed a defamation lawsuit against him in 2019 after he dismissed her claims.
The investigation, as reported by CNN, centers on a 2022 deposition where Carroll, 82, stated she received no outside funding for her lawsuit. It was later disclosed that billionaire Reid Hoffman contributed to her legal expenses. Carroll’s attorneys have not commented on the investigation.
The probe is led by federal prosecutors in Chicago, as Carroll’s deposition took place in New York, but Hoffman’s nonprofit is based in Chicago. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recused himself from the investigation due to his previous work as one of Trump’s personal attorneys on Carroll’s appeals.
Deutsche Welle reports that the investigation may not necessarily lead to charges against Carroll. The Justice Department has faced criticism for allegedly using government powers to investigate Trump’s perceived adversaries.
Carroll’s legal battles with President Trump continue, with Trump appealing a $5 million judgment in a sexual abuse case and an $83 million judgment in a defamation case. The Supreme Court has deferred its decision on Trump’s appeal multiple times, most recently on Wednesday (May 27).
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