Donald Trump’s 2026 Legal Fronts: DOJ Investigation of E. Jean Carroll, Sanctuary-City Lawsuits, and Arizona Indictment Efforts

In 2026 the former president confronts three distinct legal battles. A Justice Department criminal probe targets his alleged 1990s sexual assault of journalist E. Jean Carroll. At the same time, the Justice Department has sued four states over refusal to supply unmarked license plates for immigration agents and has pursued mask-ban challenges, continuing a series of anti-sanctuary actions. In Arizona, the state Supreme Court blocked a grand-jury indictment of Trump allies, prompting Attorney General Kris Mayes to seek a new indictment.

CNN

Trump’s pattern of employing federal agencies to confront personal and political opponents dates to his first term, when the Justice Department pursued investigations of critics such as former FBI director James Comey. The Carroll investigation follows two civil verdicts—$5 million for sexual-abuse claims and more than $83 million for defamation—issued after a jury found Trump had assaulted Carroll and later defamed her. The sanctuary-city litigation reflects a post-#MeToo trend in which alleged abusers use civil suits to silence accusers, while also echoing longstanding federal-state tensions over immigration enforcement. The Arizona case stems from the 2020 election fallout, where prosecutors allege Trump and close associates conspired to submit false electors.

The GuardianCNNPolitico

• Donald Trump – former president, defendant in multiple actions.

The Guardian

• E. Jean Carroll – journalist and plaintiff.

The Guardian

• Justice Department, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

CNN

• States sued: Illinois, New York, Colorado, Boston (Massachusetts), plus four states in the license-plate suits.

CNN

• Legal commentators: Harry Sandick, Richard Painter, Anil Kalhan, Ilya Somin.

CNN

• Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes; spokesperson Richie Taylor.

Politico

• Alleged co-conspirators: Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, ~12 GOP activists.

Politico

• Mid-1990s – alleged assault of Carroll.

The Guardian

• 2019 – Carroll files civil suit.

The Guardian

• 2022 – Carroll’s deposition asserts no external funding.

The Guardian

• 2024 – Supreme Court delays Trump’s appeal of Carroll defamation verdict (12 times).

The Guardian

• 2025 – Trump returns to the White House; anti-sanctuary lawsuits resume.

CNN

• June 2025–2026 – DOJ files nine challenges to sanctuary policies, including four license-plate suits.

CNN

• June 4 2026 – CNN reports DOJ criminal probe of Carroll.

The Guardian

• June 2 2026 – Arizona Supreme Court blocks revival of election-related indictment.

Politico

• Carroll judgments: $5 million (sexual-abuse/defamation) + >$83 million (defamation).

The Guardian

• Sanctuary-city litigation: at least nine lawsuits covering >12 states/localities.

CNN

• License-plate suits: four states sued.

CNN

• Arizona indictment: involved three former Trump officials and ~12 activists.

Politico

These actions test the separation of powers, the limits of federal authority over states, and the capacity of the legal system to address alleged personal misconduct by a former president. Outcomes may shape future use of the Justice Department for political retaliation and influence the balance between immigration enforcement and state autonomy.

CNN

Todd Blanche blamed “the bench” in sanctuary-city courts for unfavorable rulings and expressed confidence the Supreme Court will eventually side with the administration. Harry Sandick described the anti-sanctuary strategy as a “politically… winning issue.” Richard Painter warned the administration will likely lose where it forces states to take actions not required by Congress. Anil Kalhan characterized the broader pattern as “governing through intimidations and negotiation.” Ilya Somin noted the current sanctuary cases mirror those of Trump’s first term.

CNN

Legal scholars and advocacy groups argue the DOJ’s Carroll probe is a “flimsy pretext” for retaliation, echoing earlier uses of federal agencies to punish critics. Critics cite the anticommandeering doctrine and repeated court rejections of attempts to compel state cooperation as evidence of overreach.

The Guardian

The DOJ alleges Carroll’s litigation was funded by LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, yet Carroll’s 2022 deposition states she received no such support. The criminal basis for the Carroll investigation remains unclear, and courts have not yet ruled on the constitutionality of the license-plate mandates.

The Guardian

• “never wavered or relented in his public attacks” — Appeals Court (Guardian)

The Guardian

• “I think the administration feels, politically, that this is a winning issue,” — Harry Sandick, attorney

CNN

• “The administration is likely to lose in areas where they’re trying to force the states to affirmatively do something that Congress does not require the states to do,” — Richard Painter, law professor

CNN

• “The sanctuary cities cases currently are very similar to what it was in Trump 1, and I’m not surprised [by the results] there,” — Ilya Somin, law professor

CNN

• “The Arizona Attorney General’s Office will return this case to the grand jury,” — Richie Taylor, spokesperson for AG Kris Mayes

Politico

• “The facts, it turns out, do not care about his feelings.” — Guardian commentary

The Guardian