Full Breakdown
DOJ Launches Criminal Investigation into E. Jean Carroll Over Perjury Allegations
5/28/2026, 4:18:59 AM
Core Event
The Justice Department announced a criminal inquiry into E. Jean Carroll, the 82-year-old former magazine columnist who sued former President Donald J. Trump for sexual assault and defamation. Federal prosecutors in the Northern District of Illinois, led by U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros, are probing whether Carroll committed perjury in a 2022 deposition in which she claimed no outside party funded her civil lawsuits. Prosecutors say the claim was contradicted by later disclosures that billionaire Reid Hoffman’s Chicago-based nonprofit had covered part of Carroll’s legal expenses.
Background & Context
Carroll filed two civil actions against Trump. A 2023 New York jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and awarded $5 million; a 2024 jury awarded $83.3 million in a defamation case, broken down into $7.3 million for emotional harm, $11 million for reputational injury, and $65 million in punitive damages. Trump has appealed both judgments and repeatedly sought Supreme Court review, which has been deferred twelve times as of May 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
A Justice Department spokesperson confirmed the agency is investigating “whether Carroll made false statements” but declined further comment. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recused himself, citing his earlier representation of Trump on a Carroll appeal. Carroll’s attorneys declined to comment on the probe.
Criticism & Opposition
Legal analysts have called the probe “unusual” and potentially “vindictive or selective prosecution,” arguing it reflects a pattern of DOJ actions targeting Trump’s adversaries. Ryan Goodman observed the investigation “has all of the hallmarks of cases where they’ve basically gone after Trump’s detractors as the person, not because they thought a major federal crime had been committed.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No indictment or charge has been filed, and the scope of the inquiry remains undisclosed. The Department has offered no details beyond confirming the investigation’s existence, leaving the public without clarity on evidentiary standards or timeline.
Verbatim Quotes
- “conspired to conceal the truth for nearly six months.” — Alina Habba, Trump’s attorney
- “This is not usual for the Justice Department to go back into an old civil case from years ago and pick out one statement in a deposition that even the federal judge in that case said was not directly material to the ultimate conclusion in the case,” — Ryan Goodman, Just Security
- “We can confirm that no U.S. Attorney’s Office has declined to investigate any case relating to the subject matter of CNN’s inquiry. We will not comment beyond that.” — Justice Department spokesperson
What’s Next
Prosecutors may seek an indictment if they conclude perjury occurred. Meanwhile, Trump’s appeals of the civil judgments continue, with another Supreme Court review pending. The investigation’s outcome could shape future debates over the DOJ’s role in politically charged cases.
