Justice Department Initiates Criminal Investigation Into E. Jean Carroll

The U.S. Department of Justice has commenced a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, who accused former President Donald Trump of sexual assault. The investigation, reported by CNN on May 27, 2026, seeks to determine whether Carroll committed perjury during her civil lawsuits against Trump. Carroll's lawsuits resulted in a total of $88.3 million in damages. One lawsuit alleged that Trump sexually abused Carroll in a New York department store in the mid-1990s, while the other claimed he defamed her by denying the assault in 2019. The investigation stems from Carroll's 2022 deposition, where she stated she received no external funding for her lawsuit, despite later revelations that some legal fees were covered by billionaire Reid Hoffman. A Justice Department spokesperson confirmed that no U.S. Attorney’s Office has declined to investigate any related cases but did not provide further comments.