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The Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into writer E. Jean Carroll, focusing on whether she committed perjury during civil lawsuits against President Donald Trump, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The investigation is reportedly being led by Andrew S. Boutros, the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the inquiry is ongoing. CNN first reported the existence of the probe.
Carroll, 82, successfully sued Trump in two high-profile civil cases stemming from her accusations that he sexually assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s and later defamed her by publicly denying the allegations.
A federal jury in New York in May 2023 found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, awarding her $5 million in damages. In a separate defamation case, Carroll later won an $83 million judgment against Trump.
Trump has denied Carroll’s allegations and has continued to challenge the rulings in court. Last November, he asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the $5 million judgment. Earlier this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit granted Trump a delay in paying the separate $83 million judgment while he pursues further appeals.
According to the source familiar with the investigation, federal prosecutors are examining whether Carroll made false statements under oath during the litigation process.
The inquiry also adds to growing scrutiny over the Justice Department’s handling of politically sensitive investigations under the Trump administration. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously represented Trump in the Carroll litigation, has reportedly recused himself from the matter because of that prior involvement.
The investigation comes as the administration has launched or expanded several probes involving Trump critics, political opponents and former government officials.
No charges have been filed against Carroll, and the scope of the investigation remains unclear.
