[ { "type": "paragraph", "content": "The United States Department of Justice has announced that it is conducting a criminal investigation into former magazine columnist E Jean Carroll, who publicly accused ex‑President Donald Tr ump of sexual assault. According to CBS News, the probe is focused on whether Carroll committed perjury in the course of civil litigation against the former president." }, { "type": "paragraph", "content": "Carroll’s claims flared in a 2019 lawsuit that culminated in a 2023 jury verdict holding Trump liable for both sexual assault and defamation. In a separate 2024 suit a court again found Trump at fault for defamation after he dismissed Carroll’s allegations as a political stunt. The civil defeats were upheld on appeal, although Trump has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the first judgment that ordered him to pay $5 million to Carroll." }, { "type": "paragraph", "content": "The new investigation centers on an allegation that Carroll misrepresented her funding sources in a 2022 deposition. A defense disclosure revealed that LinkedIn co‑founder Reid Hoffman’s nonprofit had paid a portion of Carroll’s legal fees. In that deposition, Carroll reportedly said she had received no external finance. The court later found the statement ‘plausibly represented’ that Carroll had simply forgotten about the limited assistance she had received." }, { "type": "paragraph", "content": "While the DOJ confirmed it is looking into the matter, senior attorney and criminology professor Dmitriy Shakhnevich of John Jay College cautioned that prosecuting a single perjury charge originating from a civil case is rare. He noted that perjury can be proven, but the government must demonstrate that the alleged statements were made knowingly and willingly." }, { "type": "paragraph", "content": "The inquiry is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Illinois, while Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, who had previously represented Trump in the appellate proceedings, has recused himself from the case. The DOJ has maintained a neutral stance in response to the probe." }, { "type": "paragraph", "content": "This investigation comes amid Trump’s broader strategy of encouraging the DOJ to take action against a range of political adversaries and his criticism of a $1.8 billion settlement fund the Justice Department has recently announced, aimed at compensating individuals who were allegedly unfairly investigated during previous presidential administrations." }, { "type": "paragraph", "content": "The outcome of the investigation remains uncertain. While the DOJ could indict or charge Carroll, it is also plausible that the probe will simply close without further action, a possibility that has been highlighted by legal experts." } ]}