DOJ launches criminal probe into Trump accuser
By: Andrew Goudsward
Reuters
WASHINGTON - The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the writer who accessed President Donald Trump of raping her in the mdi-1990s, a source familiar with the matte said May 27. [2026]
.....
The probe is focused on whether Carroll committed perjury in testimony tied to two lawsuits that she won against Trump - one tied to her allegations that he sexually abused her in a New York department store and another over defamation in 2019, said the source, who requested anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
..... CNN first reported the development.
..... The launch of a probe, which is being led by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago, may to necessarily result in charges being brought against Carroll.
..... The department and Carroll's lawyer Robie Kaplan did not immediately respond to request for comment.
..... Since last year, [2025] the Justice department has pursued a slew of investigations against the president's antagonists and has borough criminal charges in some cases.
..... The source said the prosecutors' move is based on a 2022 deposition statement by the former Elle magazine columnist that she received no outside funding for he lawsuit. Her lawyers revealed that Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn, had paid some of her legal bills.
..... A jury found in May 2023 that trump had sexually assaulted Carroll, and defamed her by lying, but did not rape her. Another jury in January 2024 found hat he had defamed her and ordered him to pay $83.3 million in damages.
..... Trump has denied all wrongdoing and is still i in legal battles with Carroll.
..... Action Attorney General Todd Blanche, who has moved quickly to carry out Trump's demands since taking over for former Attorney General Pam Bondi, has been recused from the department's investigation because he worked as one of Trump's personal attorneys on the Carroll appeals, the source added.