Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal inquiry into whether writer E. Jean Carroll made false statements related to her accusations against President Donald Trump. The investigation marks the latest development in the yearslong legal and political battle between Trump and Carroll, who accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store during the mid-1990s—a claim Trump has repeatedly denied.
Carroll first publicly accused Trump in 2019, after which he stated she fabricated the story for publicity and political motives. In 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, awarding her $5 million in damages. A second federal jury in 2024 awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million in a separate defamation case tied to further comments Trump made about her following the initial verdict.
Trump has appealed both rulings and has argued that some of his public remarks about Carroll were made in his official capacity as president, thereby warranting protection under free speech laws. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing or misconduct toward her.
The Justice Department under President Joe Biden concluded there was insufficient basis to treat Trump’s comments about Carroll as official presidential conduct.
The inquiry appears to focus on whether Carroll made false statements connected to her accusations against Trump, though the details of the probe remain unclear.
