The Justice Department has initiated an investigation into whether E. Jean Carroll, the longtime advice columnist who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault, committed perjury during her civil litigation against the former president, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The investigation, confirmed by a person unauthorized to discuss the ongoing inquiry publicly, is being led by federal prosecutors in Chicago. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has recused himself due to his previous role as Trump's personal attorney, the source said.
Carroll's legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press on Thursday.
This inquiry marks the latest in a series of investigations by the Trump administration's Justice Department into perceived adversaries, including the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. Critics, including Democrats and former officials, have expressed concerns that the department is being weaponized for political purposes.
Carroll has alleged that a chance encounter with Trump in 1996 at Bergdorf Goodman's Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan turned violent. She claims Trump slammed her against a dressing room wall, pulled down her tights, and forcibly assaulted her. Trump has denied the allegations, calling them a "made-up scam" and suggesting they were politically motivated or aimed at promoting her memoir.
In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse, awarding Carroll $5 million. The following year, a separate jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in a defamation case related to Trump's social media attacks.
The Justice Department is scrutinizing a statement Carroll made during the civil litigation that no one else was paying her legal fees. It later emerged that a Chicago-based organization backed by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman had helped fund her case. Trump's lawyers accused Carroll of concealing this information, raising questions about political motivation.
A recent court entry indicated that Trump will not have to pay the award until the U.S. Supreme Court reviews the case or rejects an appeal. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted Trump's request to delay payment, requiring him to post a $7.4 million bond to cover additional interest costs, as requested by Carroll's attorney.
The Carroll investigation was first reported by CNN.
