U.S. Justice Department launches perjury probe of E. Jean Carroll
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into 82‑year‑old former columnist E. Jean Carroll. Prosecutors are examining whether Carroll committed perjury in a 2022 deposition in which she said she received no outside funding for her two civil lawsuits against former President Donald Trump. The lawsuits resulted in a $5 million judgment for sexual‑abuse claims and an $83 million judgment for defamation, both of which Trump is appealing. The probe focuses on the role of a nonprofit linked to billionaire LinkedIn co‑founder Reid Hoffman, which paid part of Carroll’s legal fees. The investigation is being led by U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros in the Northern District of Illinois, with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recused because he previously represented Trump in the appeals. While Carroll’s lawyers argue the inquiry is a political retaliation, federal prosecutors say they are assessing possible money‑laundering, obstruction and false‑statement violations. No charges have been announced and the inquiry does not yet affect the pending civil judgments.