The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrew Boutros, has denied reports of a new criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, who accused President Donald Trump of sexual assault. Reports emerged on Wednesday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) was investigating Carroll for potential perjury during a 2022 deposition. Boutros stated that his office has not opened and has never opened a criminal investigation into Carroll, calling any contrary claims 'categorically false.'
Instead, the DOJ is looking into the funding of Carroll's legal expenses in her civil lawsuits against Trump, specifically examining a Chicago-based nonprofit organization run by Reid Hoffman that contributed to her legal costs. In her 2022 testimony, Carroll claimed she was not receiving outside funding for her legal expenses. However, it has been reported that American Future Republic, a nonprofit associated with Hoffman, did assist in covering her legal bills. A source familiar with the DOJ's operations indicated that the investigation is related to Carroll's deposition but clarified that she is not the subject of the investigation. Carroll has sued Trump twice, once for alleged sexual assault and once for defamation regarding his denial of the incident. Trump denies all allegations against him.
