The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the author and advice columnist who won an $83 million defamation verdict against Donald Trump in 2024, according to multiple reports published Tuesday. The investigation is focused on Carroll's actions in connection with her civil defamation lawsuit against Trump.
Carroll became a prominent public figure after accusing Trump of sexual assault and subsequently suing him for defamation when he denied the allegations. A federal jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in 2023, and the following year awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages in a separate defamation trial.
The DOJ's decision to open a criminal inquiry into Carroll represents an unusual move, as it targets the plaintiff in a civil case that Trump lost. Critics have characterized the investigation as politically motivated, given that it comes while Trump is serving his second term as president. The department has not publicly detailed the specific allegations underpinning the probe.
Carroll's legal team has not publicly commented in detail on the investigation. The development has drawn significant attention from legal observers, who note that targeting a civil plaintiff with criminal scrutiny in a matter directly involving the sitting president raises serious questions about prosecutorial independence.
Left-Leaning Emphasis
- The Guardian frames the investigation as a politically motivated move by a DOJ operating under Trump's influence, suggesting it is retaliatory against a woman who held Trump legally accountable.
- The Guardian emphasizes the chilling effect the probe could have on future accusers and civil litigants who bring cases against powerful figures.
Right-Leaning Emphasis
- The Hill presents the investigation in a more procedural framing, focusing on the legal mechanics of the DOJ inquiry rather than its political implications.
- Center-right outlets have been more restrained in characterizing DOJ motives, instead focusing on what specific conduct may have triggered the criminal referral.