Justice Department Investigation Into E. Jean Carroll Marks a New Turn in Trump’s Retribution Campaign

The Justice Department has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the 82-year-old former magazine columnist who publicly accused Donald Trump of sexual assault. According to two individuals with direct knowledge of the matter, the inquiry signals yet another escalation in what critics describe as a sweeping campaign of political payback against the president’s perceived enemies.

The development has drawn intense scrutiny, both because of who is being targeted and because of the broader pattern it appears to fit.

What the Investigation Is About

At the heart of the inquiry is a single question: did Carroll commit perjury during her civil lawsuits against Trump? One source, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of an active investigation, confirmed that this is the central focus of the probe.

Carroll’s legal history with Trump is significant. She secured two major civil victories against him:

• A $5 million judgment after a jury found that Trump had sexually abused and defamed her.
• A separate $83.3 million judgment in a second defamation case.

Trump, who has consistently denied the allegations, asked the Supreme Court last November to overturn the first ruling. Now, the woman who won those judgments finds herself under federal criminal scrutiny.

A Familiar Pattern of Targeting Adversaries

The investigation into Carroll does not appear to be an isolated event. Instead, it fits into a much larger picture of the Justice Department training its sights on people who have challenged, accused, or opposed Trump in the past.

Several high-profile figures have reportedly come under the department’s microscope, including former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and other longtime opponents of the president. Each of these individuals played a role in legal or investigative actions against Trump before he returned to office.

The inquiry into Carroll was opened by Andrew Boutros, the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The existence of the investigation was first reported by CNN. Carroll’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Questions About How the Department Is Operating

The timing and structure of this investigation have raised eyebrows among legal observers. Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, has reportedly stepped back from the probe because he previously served as Trump’s own lawyer. Even so, officials at department headquarters are said to have remained involved in the case.

This comes during a turbulent period for a Justice Department that increasingly appears to operate under Trump’s influence. Department leadership has offered little resistance as the president presses forward with efforts to go after those who once stood in his way.

Blanche, in particular, has pursued aggressive investigations against people Trump has publicly identified as targets. In one striking example, the department charged Comey last month over a social media post showing seashells arranged to spell out “86 47.” Prosecutors claimed it amounted to a threat against Trump, though Comey has firmly denied any violent intent or wrongdoing.

How the Retribution Campaign Gained Momentum

The current wave of investigations did not appear overnight. The effort reportedly intensified last September, when Trump openly called for then-Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue prosecutions against several of his adversaries.

Within weeks, a newly appointed prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia had indicted both Comey and James. However, those early cases hit major obstacles. A judge dismissed both indictments, and despite the more recent charges against Comey, the department has struggled to build successful cases against many of Trump’s critics.

This track record raises real questions about whether the new investigation into Carroll will fare any better, or whether it is more about sending a message than securing a conviction.

The History Behind Carroll’s Allegations

Carroll’s accusations rank among the most serious ever leveled at the president, and Trump has spent years trying to discredit and demean her publicly.

A point of contention emerged even before the first trial. Trump’s lawyers wrote to the judge accusing Carroll of hiding financial support that her case allegedly received from Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn and a well-known Trump critic. They argued that the later disclosure of this funding raised serious doubts about her credibility.

Carroll’s legal team pushed back, saying Hoffman’s financial backing had no bearing on the substance of her claims and that she played no part in arranging the outside funding. A spokeswoman for Hoffman did not respond to a request for comment.

The Court Verdicts That Defined the Cases

The legal outcomes against Trump were substantial and have largely held up on appeal.

In May 2023, a federal jury in New York found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room during the mid-1990s. The same jury concluded that he had defamed her by publicly branding her account a hoax and a lie. Carroll was awarded $5 million, a verdict that an appeals court unanimously upheld in December 2024.

The second case proved even more costly for Trump. In January 2024, a Manhattan jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million, including $65 million in punitive damages, after finding that Trump had acted with malice. Her lawyers argued that only a large penalty could stop him from continuing his relentless public attacks.

A Second Circuit appeals panel later upheld that verdict as well, noting that Trump “never wavered” in attacking Carroll and that his statements exposed her to harassment, including death threats. The court ruled he would not have to pay immediately, as he plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Concerns Over Prosecutorial Conduct

Adding to the controversy, the conduct of prosecutors working under Boutros has drawn criticism in recent days. Last Thursday, Boutros announced the dismissal of misdemeanor charges against people who had protested outside a Chicago-area immigration detention facility.

He cited potential misconduct during the grand jury process as the reason. Defense attorneys alleged that prosecutors under his supervision had improper conversations with individual grand jurors outside the courtroom, a clear violation of the rules.

What Comes Next

The Justice Department investigation into E. Jean Carroll is likely to deepen ongoing debates about the independence and integrity of federal law enforcement. With the department increasingly seen as an instrument of presidential will, the outcome of this inquiry will be watched closely by legal experts, political observers, and the public alike.

For now, it stands as the latest chapter in a campaign that shows little sign of slowing down.