US Justice Department probes author Elizabeth Jean Caroll over Trump assault claims

The US Department of Justice announced a criminal investigation of 82‑year‑old author and former Elle journalist Elizabeth Jean Caroll, who sued former President Donald Trump for sexual assault. Prosecutors are examining whether Caroll committed perjury in sworn statements related to two civil lawsuits — one alleging a 1996 rape in a Manhattan department store and another defamation suit after Trump repeatedly denied the allegations and claimed she fabricated them to boost book sales.

The probe relies on Caroll’s 2022 testimony in which she said she received no external funding for her legal costs, although later reporting indicated billionaire Ron Hoefman helped cover part of the expenses. The investigation is part of a broader series of DOJ actions targeting individuals the Trump administration has labeled personal adversaries; it follows the earlier dismissal of former Attorney General Pam Bondi for failing to pursue cases against figures such as former FBI director James Comey.