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Justice Department opens criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll over possible perjury tied to Trump civil cases

Wednesday, May 27, 2026U.S. PoliticsWell-covered5 frames

The Facts

  • The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll over possible perjury connected to her civil litigation against Donald Trump.
  • Multiple reports say the inquiry is examining Carroll's testimony in connection with the two civil lawsuits she brought against Trump.
  • The reported basis for the perjury inquiry is a 2022 deposition in which Carroll said she had not received outside funding for her lawsuit, after which legal filings disclosed that some legal fees and expenses were paid with support linked to Reid Hoffman.
  • Carroll accused Trump of sexual assault and defamation in two civil cases, and juries found Trump liable in those cases.
  • In those civil cases, Carroll was awarded $5 million in one judgment and $83.3 million in another.
  • The investigation has been reported as being led out of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
  • The investigation does not necessarily mean Carroll will be charged, leaving the legal outcome unresolved.

How left and right are reading this

Both agree
Sworn testimony in high-stakes civil litigation is treated by both framings as consequential in its own right, with the reported inquiry turning on whether statements tied to Carroll’s lawsuits were accurate even as any criminal outcome remains unresolved.
They split on
Whether the story is about a perjury inquiry risking confidence in civil verdicts that already found liability, or about enforcing accuracy in sworn testimony regardless of who won the underlying cases.
Frames
Facts
Just the facts
Cable News Mode
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Facts
Right
Just the facts
Analytical frames for this storyTap to explore

Context

What is the reported perjury issue?

Reports say investigators are looking at whether Carroll's 2022 deposition testimony was false when she said she had not received outside funding for her lawsuits. Later filings disclosed that some legal fees and expenses were paid with support linked to Reid Hoffman BBC,Guardian,CBS News.

What were Carroll's civil cases against Trump about?

Carroll brought two civil cases against Trump: one tied to her accusation that he sexually assaulted her, and another over statements in which he denied her claims and attacked her credibility. Juries found Trump liable, and Carroll won damages in both cases Aol,BBC,CBS News.

What is still unresolved?

It is not yet clear whether the Justice Department's investigation will result in criminal charges against Carroll. Separately, Trump has continued trying to overturn at least one of the civil judgments, including by asking the Supreme Court to review the $5 million case NYT,BBC,El Español.

View all 100 sources

Wire services (1)

ReutersReutersDOJ launches criminal probe into E. Jean Carroll, source say...

Independent coverage (50)

New York PostDOJ opens perjury investigation into Trump sex abuse accuser...
CelebitchyDonald Trump's DOJ launched a criminal investigation into E....
Jean Marc MorandiniLa journaliste qui avait fait condamner Donald Trump pour ag...
The Globe and MailDOJ opens criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, who a...
Le Huffington PostL'offensive du gouvernement Trump contre E. Jean Carroll, un...
TIMEDOJ Launches Investigation Into Trump Accuser E. Jean Carrol...
YahooJustice Department Launches Criminal Investigation Into Trum...
BBCJustice department launches criminal investigation into Trum...
BBCJustice department launches criminal investigation into Trum...
RTE.ieTrump accuser investigated for perjury in assault case
RT en EspañolJusticia de EE.UU. inicia investigación contra escritora que...
news24US opens criminal investigation into Trump rape accuser E Je...
YahooUS investigating E Jean Carroll for perjury
DER STANDARDBerichte: US-Ministerium ermittelt gegen Autorin Carroll
Paris MatchLe ministère américain de la Justice ouvre une enquête contr...
Sudinfo.beUne femme accuse Donald Trump d'agression sexuelle et... se ...
stern.deBerichte: US-Justiz ermittelt gegen Ex-Kolumnistin wegen Mei...
DH.beEnquête contre une femme ayant accusé Trump d'agression sexu...
CNN InternationalDOJ opens investigation into Trump accuser E. Jean Carroll
El HuffPostVenganza de Trump: ordena investigar a la escritora que lo a...
La Libre.beEnquête contre une femme ayant accusé Trump d'agression sexu...
TownhallWhy E. Jean Carroll Is Now the Subject of a Justice Departme...
NewsBytesJustice Department launches criminal investigation into Trum...
The Irish TimesUS department of justice begins criminal investigation into ...
El EspañolLa venganza de Trump: ordena a su Administración investigar ...
ForbesDOJ Opens Criminal Probe Into Trump Accuser E. Jean Carroll,...
Berliner ZeitungNach Missbrauchsurteilen: US-Justizministerium ermittelt geg...
kp.ruCNN: в США начато расследование против журналистки, обвинивш...
Izvestia.ruВ США начали расследование против обвинительницы Трампа Элиз...
NDTVUS To Probe E Jean Carroll, Ex-Columnist Who Accused Trump O...
Московский КомсомолецНачато уголовное расследование против обвинившей Трампа в се...
The Jerusalem PostDOJ launches perjury investigation into Trump accuser E. Jea...
T-online.deUS-Ministerium leitet Ermittlung gegen mutmaßliches Trump-Op...
NewserDOJ Probes E. Jean Carroll for Possible Perjury: Sources
www.Bluewin.chTrump lässt Justizministerium offenbar gegen Autorin Carroll...
Le MatinÉtats-Unis: Enquête contre une femme qui a accusé Trump d'ag...
WEB.DEUS-Ministerium ermittelt gegen Trumps prominenteste Ankläger...
Аргументы и фактыВ США началось расследование против обвинившей Трампа писате...
NewsweekDOJ probes Trump accuser E. Jean Carroll over Reid Hoffman p...
The News InternationalUS Justice Department launches criminal probe into Trump acc...
ВедомостиВ США начали расследование против обвинившей Трампа в насили...
LaVanguardiaEl Departamento de Justicia abre investigación penal a E.Jea...
newsORF.atBerichte: US-Ministerium ermittelt gegen Autorin Carroll
FirstpostShe accused Trump of rape and is now being investigated by U...
AolDOJ investigating whether Trump accuser E. Jean Carroll comm...
rts.chLe ministère américain de la Justice ouvre une enquête pénal...
eldiario.esEl Departamento de Justicia abre una investigación penal con...
CBS NewsJustice Department investigating whether Trump accuser E. Je...
Der TagesspiegelNach Missbrauchsvorwürfen gegen Trump: US-Ministerium ermitt...
Deutsche WelleDOJ launches criminal probe into E. Jean Carroll -- report...
About these frames
The Watchdog: Wrongdoing, responsibility, corruption, transparency. Who knew what, when, and what they did about it.
The Guardian: Sanctity, degradation, bodily autonomy, moral boundaries, human dignity, bioethics, environmental purity. Where are the lines that should not be crossed?
The Architect: Stability, law, enforcement, institutional design, separation of powers, regulatory process, rule of law. How are order and governance maintained?
The Analyst: Costs, jobs, inflation, growth, incentives, markets, tradeoffs. Follow the money.
The Advocate: Liberty, speech, privacy, autonomy, rights, consent, choice. What freedoms are at stake.

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