Justice Dept. Is Said to Open Criminal Inquiry of E. Jean Carroll
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, focusing on whether she committed perjury in civil lawsuits against Donald Trump.
- Carroll, an 82-year-old former magazine writer, won a $5 million civil judgment against Trump for sexual abuse and defamation related to allegations from the mid-1990s.
- The inquiry was initiated by Andrew S. Boutros, the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, while Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recused himself due to prior representation of Trump in the Carroll case.
- In May 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation against Carroll, and Trump is currently appealing related judgments, including an $83 million defamation award.
- The investigation's existence was first reported by CNN, and Carroll's lawyer has not yet commented on the probe.