E. Jean Carroll Now Under Federal Investigation for Perjury

The legal saga surrounding E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump just took another turn—and this time, Carroll herself is in the crosshairs. Federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into the former magazine columnist, focusing on whether she committed perjury during her civil lawsuits against the president.

Here’s what triggered the probe: Carroll allegedly testified in a 2022 deposition that she received no outside funding for her legal battle. But subsequent reporting suggested that billionaire Reid Hoffman had helped cover her legal fees and expenses. If prosecutors can prove she knowingly lied under oath about that funding, she could face serious charges.

The context here matters. In 2023, a New York jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the 1990s at a Manhattan department store and for defaming her afterward when he called her accusations a fabrication. She won a $5 million judgment. Trump appealed, but the court denied his request for a new trial in December 2024, letting the verdict stand.

Now the tables have turned in an unexpected way. While Carroll’s claims were validated in civil court, the Justice Department is examining the credibility of her testimony under oath. It’s a striking development that underscores how messy these high-profile disputes can become once they’re in the legal system. Depositions demand precise answers, and even omissions or misleading statements about peripheral details—like funding sources—can become criminal exposure if a prosecutor decides to pursue it.

Carroll’s representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment. What happens next depends on whether federal prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to bring charges. For now, the case that made headlines for its verdict against a sitting president has spawned a separate investigation that puts the accuser herself under federal scrutiny.