Justice Department Investigates E. Jean Carroll Over 2022 Funding Testimony in Trump Case
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 6
Justice Department Investigates E. Jean Carroll Over 2022 Funding Testimony in Trump Case
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 6
Summary
CNN reported that the Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll over statements she made in a 2022 deposition about who funded her lawsuit against Donald Trump.
Prosecutors are examining whether Carroll falsely said she received no outside support, even though billionaire LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman reportedly helped finance her legal fight.
The inquiry targets a woman who already won two civil judgments against Trump—$5 million for sexual abuse and defamation, and more than $83 million for defamation—while Trump continues to challenge those rulings.
The move adds to a broader pattern of Trump-era investigations into figures who sued, criticized or crossed him, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Fed Chair Jerome Powell, John Bolton and James Comey.
What does this federal inquiry signal to future accusers of powerful individuals?
Justice Department Probes Trump Adversaries: Political Motivation, E. Jean Carroll Lawsuit Funding, and the Chilling Effect on Civil Litigation
Overview
The Justice Department has launched a criminal probe that mainly targets individuals seen as adversaries of Donald J. Trump. This effort intensified after Trump publicly urged prosecutions against his opponents, leading to swift indictments by newly appointed prosecutors. Notably, James B. Comey was charged over a social media post, but the case, along with others, was dismissed by a judge. Despite aggressive actions by figures like Todd Blanche, the Justice Department has struggled to make these cases stick, raising concerns about political motivation and the impartiality of the justice system.