Federal prosecutors in Chicago are reportedly reviewing whether writer E. Jean Carroll made false statements under oath during testimony connected to her civil lawsuits against President Donald Trump.
The reported inquiry focuses on Carroll’s 2022 deposition and whether she accurately answered questions about outside financial support for her legal case.
According to multiple reports, prosecutors are examining testimony in which Carroll said she had not received outside funding for her litigation.
The question now is whether later disclosures about financial assistance for her legal expenses could conflict with that sworn testimony.
TRENDING TODAY
The issue centers on a nonprofit connected to LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, a billionaire Democratic donor, that reportedly helped cover some of Carroll’s legal costs.
Trump’s attorneys previously argued that the funding arrangement should have been disclosed earlier in the case.
The reported investigation is still in its early stages.
No charges have been filed, and prosecutors have not publicly accused Carroll of wrongdoing.
Instead, they are reviewing whether any discrepancy between her deposition testimony and later financial disclosures could meet the legal standard for perjury.
Carroll first publicly accused Trump in 2019 of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.
Trump has repeatedly denied the allegation and said Carroll’s claims are false.
The dispute led to multiple civil cases.
In 2023, a New York jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation and awarded Carroll $5 million.
A second trial in 2024 resulted in an $83.3 million defamation judgment against Trump tied to additional public statements he made about Carroll.
Trump has appealed both rulings.
Carroll’s legal team has previously maintained that she did not personally coordinate with Hoffman and that any legal support was handled through proper legal channels.
The reported DOJ inquiry also comes with political complications.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche previously represented Trump in matters connected to the Carroll litigation.
Reports say Blanche has recused himself from the inquiry because of that prior representation, leaving career prosecutors in Chicago to handle the matter.
The investigation does not affect the existing civil judgments against Trump unless courts later find a legal reason to revisit them.
For now, the probe adds another layer to the long-running legal fight between Carroll and Trump.
Why It Matters
The reported inquiry could reopen questions about outside funding, sworn testimony and transparency in one of Trump’s most high-profile civil cases. At the same time, no charges have been filed, and the investigation remains separate from Trump’s ongoing appeals.
What Comes Next
Federal prosecutors will decide whether Carroll’s deposition testimony warrants further action. Trump’s legal team may also attempt to use the reported inquiry in broader arguments as appeals continue.
A related post highlighted reports that federal prosecutors are reviewing E. Jean Carroll’s testimony about outside funding in her lawsuits against Trump.
BREAKING: The DOJ has launched a criminal investigation into Trump accuser E. Jean Carroll after she reportedly LIED about receiving outside funding for her lawsuit against Trump. pic.twitter.com/qBjbYew6Fu
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 28, 2026
