Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into writer E. Jean Carroll, who previously brought successful civil lawsuits against U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
The investigation centers on potential perjury charges related to Carroll’s testimony in connection with two civil cases she won against Trump – one involving her claims that he sexually abused her at a New York department store and another concerning defamation in 2019, the source told reporters Wednesday while requesting anonymity due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
CNN was first to report this development.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago is leading the investigation, though the initiation of such a probe does not guarantee that charges will ultimately be filed against Carroll.
Neither the department nor Carroll’s attorney Robbie Kaplan provided immediate responses to requests for comment.
Trump’s Justice Department has initiated numerous investigations targeting the president’s critics since last year, with some resulting in criminal charges.
According to the source, prosecutors are focusing on a 2022 deposition in which the former Elle magazine columnist stated she had not received external funding for her legal case. Her legal team subsequently disclosed that Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn, had covered portions of her attorney fees.
In May 2023, a jury determined that Trump had sexually assaulted Carroll and defamed her through false statements, though they did not find him guilty of rape. A separate jury in January 2024 concluded he had defamed her and ordered him to pay $83.3 million in damages.
Trump has maintained his innocence regarding all allegations and continues to pursue legal challenges related to Carroll’s cases.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who has moved swiftly to implement Trump’s directives since replacing his predecessor Pam Bondi, has recused himself from this department investigation due to his previous role as one of Trump’s personal lawyers handling the Carroll appeals, the source noted.
