DOJ Opens Perjury Probe Into E. Jean Carroll
DOJ criminal investigation E. Jean Carroll
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the former magazine columnist who successfully sued President Donald Trump for sexual abuse and defamation. According to multiple reports, including those from CNN and The New York Times, the probe is examining whether Carroll committed perjury during a 2022 deposition related to her civil litigation against the President. The investigation is currently being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
The focus of the investigation centers on statements Carroll made during her 2022 deposition, during which she testified that she had not received outside financial support for her lawsuits. It was later disclosed that LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman had provided funding for some of her legal expenses through a nonprofit. Trump’s legal team argued that this revelation undermined her credibility, though Carroll’s attorneys stated that she was not personally involved in the details of the funding and had not communicated with the nonprofit.
A three-judge federal appeals court panel in 2024 previously dismissed claims that Carroll had intentionally lied, finding that she plausibly represented that she was not involved in the litigation’s financial arrangements.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has officially recused himself from the investigation, as he previously served as one of President Trump’s personal attorneys during the appeals process for the Carroll civil cases.
The inquiry is now being overseen by other senior officials within the Deputy Attorney General’s office. The launch of this probe follows a pattern of recent Department of Justice investigations into figures critical of or adversarial to the administration.
As of Thursday, May 28, 2026, the Justice Department and Carroll’s legal representatives have not provided immediate comments on the development.
While a criminal investigation has been initiated, it does not guarantee that charges will be filed. Carroll remains involved in ongoing legal battles with the President, who is currently appealing the $5 million sexual abuse judgment and the $83.3 million defamation verdict. For further updates, you can follow CBS News’ ongoing coverage of the legal developments.
