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A history of E. Jean Carroll’s legal battle with President Donald Trump

5 articles
4 sources
0% diversity
Updated 10h ago
Key Topics & People
E. Jean Carroll *Reid Hoffman United States Department of Justice Justice Department New York

Coverage Framing

5
Legal & Judicial(5)
Avg Factuality:78%
Avg Sensationalism:Moderate

Story Timeline

May 29 Morning

1 articles|1 sources
e. jean carrolldonald trumpsexual assault allegationlegal battledefamation lawsuit
Legal & Judicial(1)
Associated Press (AP)10h ago

A history of E. Jean Carroll’s legal battle with President Donald Trump

E. Jean Carroll has been engaged in a nearly seven-year legal battle with Donald Trump, alleging he sexually assaulted her in 1996. Carroll's allegations first became public in 2019, leading to a defamation lawsuit that was delayed by Trump's claims of presidential immunity. Following a change in New York law in 2022, Carroll filed a new lawsuit alleging rape and defamation. In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and awarded Carroll $5 million. A subsequent trial in 2024 resulted in an additional $83 million in damages for Trump's defamatory statements. Trump is currently appealing both verdicts. Reports of a federal perjury investigation into Carroll have been denied by the U.S. attorney's office.

MeasuredFactual3 sources
Neutral

Key Claims

factual

E. Jean Carroll alleges Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996.

— E. Jean Carroll

factual

A jury found Trump liable for attacking Carroll and awarded her damages for his public attacks on her credibility.

— jury

factual

The U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois denied reports of a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll.

— Andrew Boutros, U.S. attorney

quote

Trump denied Carroll's allegations, stating he never met her and she is not his type.

— Donald Trump

factual

News organizations reported Trump's Justice Department opened an investigation into whether Carroll lied under oath.

— news organizations

May 28 Evening

2 articles|2 sources
justice department investigatione. jean carrolldonald trumpcriminal investigationassault accusation
Legal & Judicial(2)
Associated Press (AP)Yesterday

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.

MeasuredFactual1 source
Negative
BBC News - WorldYesterday

US justice department launches criminal investigation into Trump accuser E Jean Carroll, reports say

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.

MeasuredFactual3 sources
Neutral

Key Claims

quote

Donald Trump has called the allegations a 'made-up scam'.

— Donald Trump

quote

The US Court of Appeals for the Second District found Carroll had 'plausibly represented' she forgot about outside funding.

— US Court of Appeals for the Second District

factual

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, helped pay for some of Carroll's legal fees.

— Trump's lawyers

factual

The Justice Department has opened an investigation into E. Jean Carroll.

— AP source

factual

The investigation concerns whether E. Jean Carroll lied during civil litigation against Donald Trump.

— AP source

May 28 Morning

2 articles|2 sources
donald trumpperjurycivil lawsuitsdefamationcriminal probe
Legal & Judicial(2)
South China Morning PostYesterday

US Justice Department launches criminal probe into Trump accuser E. Jean Carroll

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.

MeasuredFactual1 source
Negative
The Guardian - World NewsYesterday

US justice department reportedly opens criminal inquiry into Trump accuser E Jean Carroll

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.

Mixed toneFactual4 sources
Negative

Key Claims

factual

E. Jean Carroll accused US President Donald Trump of raping her in the mid-1990s.

— E. Jean Carroll

factual

CNN first reported the development of the criminal probe.

— CNN

factual

A jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in E Jean Carroll's civil lawsuit, awarding her $5m in damages.

— jury

factual

The US Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll.

— source familiar with the matter

factual

The probe is focused on whether Carroll committed perjury in testimony tied to two civil lawsuits against Trump.

— source familiar with the matter