Justice Department opens investigation into E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of assault: AP source

The Justice Department has initiated an investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the columnist who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault. The inquiry, led by federal prosecutors in Chicago, will examine whether Carroll lied during civil litigation against Trump. This investigation is reportedly part of a series of probes by the Trump administration into perceived adversaries. Carroll previously won civil judgments against Trump, with juries finding him liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding her millions in damages. Trump's lawyers had accused Carroll of concealing information about her legal fees being funded by an organization backed by Reid Hoffman. Trump is currently appealing these judgments.

The US Department of Justice has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll concerning her testimony in her civil lawsuit against Donald Trump. The investigation, led by the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois, centers on whether Carroll lied in a 2022 deposition when she stated she received no outside funding for her legal case. This claim was contradicted by legal filings revealing that LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman helped cover some of her legal fees and expenses. While Carroll's deposition occurred in New York, Hoffman's non-profit organization is based in Chicago. The US Court of Appeals for the Second District had previously ruled that Carroll had "plausibly represented" she had forgotten about the limited outside funding, and was not involved in the matter of litigation costs.

The US Justice Department has initiated a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the writer who accused former President Donald Trump of rape. The probe, confirmed by a source familiar with the matter, centers on whether Carroll committed perjury in her testimony related to two civil lawsuits she won against Trump. These lawsuits concerned her allegations of sexual abuse in a New York department store and defamation stemming from his 2019 statements. The investigation's focus is on Carroll's sworn statements in these legal proceedings.

The US Justice Department is reportedly opening a criminal inquiry into E. Jean Carroll, the writer who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault. Prosecutors are examining whether Carroll committed perjury during a 2022 deposition in her civil lawsuits against Trump. Specifically, they are investigating claims that she falsely stated she did not accept outside financial support for her legal battles. This comes after Carroll's attorneys disclosed that a nonprofit funded by Reid Hoffman had paid some legal fees, a detail Trump's lawyers argued undermined her credibility. A federal appeals court panel had previously dismissed the claim that Carroll lied in her deposition. The reported investigation into Carroll is the latest instance of the Trump administration launching criminal inquiries into political opponents.