The Justice Department has initiated a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the former magazine columnist who accused former President Donald Trump of sexual assault. The investigation centers on whether Carroll committed perjury during her testimony in two civil lawsuits against Trump. These lawsuits include allegations of sexual assault in a New York department store in the mid-1990s and defamation claims following Trump’s denial of the assault in 2019.

Investigation Details

The probe focuses on a 2022 deposition where Carroll, aged 82, stated she received no external funding for her lawsuit. However, it was later revealed that billionaire Reid Hoffman had contributed to some of her legal fees and expenses. Carroll’s legal team has not commented on the investigation, and attempts to contact Hoffman were unsuccessful.

A Justice Department spokesperson confirmed the investigation but declined to provide further details. The investigation is being overseen by officials in the deputy attorney general’s office, as acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has recused himself due to previous involvement as Trump’s personal attorney in Carroll’s appeals.

Legal and Political Implications

The investigation has been referred to federal prosecutors in Chicago, where Hoffman’s nonprofit is based, despite Carroll’s deposition occurring in New York. The revelation of Hoffman’s financial support caught Trump’s legal team by surprise just before the trial. During a 2022 deposition, Carroll told Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, that no one else was paying her legal fees. However, Carroll’s attorneys later disclosed Hoffman’s funding to the judge and Trump’s lawyers.

Despite these developments, the judge overseeing the trial, Lewis Kaplan, found no issues with Carroll’s credibility and restricted Trump’s attorneys from questioning her about the funding. Carroll remains engaged in multiple legal battles with Trump, with juries awarding her millions in damages. Trump is appealing these decisions, including a $5 million sexual abuse case judgment and an $83 million defamation case.

The Supreme Court has deferred its decision on whether to hear Trump’s appeal multiple times, with the latest deferral occurring recently. In a separate case, Trump unsuccessfully sought to involve the Justice Department as a defendant to claim immunity from liability, with an appeals court panel ruling the argument was made too late.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.