NEW YORK — Writer and former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll responded on Wednesday to new legal developments involving President Donald Trump, after reports emerged that the U.S. Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation related to her testimony in civil lawsuits she previously won against Trump.
Reuters and several U.S. media outlets reported that federal prosecutors are examining whether Carroll made false statements during a 2022 deposition concerning financial support for her legal cases against Trump.
According to Reuters, the inquiry centers on Carroll’s statement that she had not received outside funding for her lawsuits. Court records later showed that some legal expenses were supported by a nonprofit linked to billionaire entrepreneur Reid Hoffman. No criminal charges have been filed, and details of the investigation remain unclear.
In a statement carried by U.S. media, Carroll’s representatives said previous courts had already reviewed arguments concerning litigation funding. “The courts have repeatedly rejected these allegations,” a spokesperson said, according to reports.
Trump has denied Carroll’s accusations for years and continues to challenge judgments entered against him in federal court. In separate civil proceedings, juries found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the mid-1990s and for defaming her after she publicly accused him in 2019. Trump has denied wrongdoing and appealed the rulings.
Earlier this month, a federal appeals court temporarily delayed enforcement of an $83.3 million defamation judgment awarded to Carroll while Trump seeks review from the U.S. Supreme Court. Court filings showed Carroll’s legal team did not oppose the delay provided additional financial guarantees were posted during the appeal process.
The legal dispute between Trump and Carroll began after Carroll published allegations in a 2019 memoir stating Trump assaulted her in a Manhattan department store during the 1990s. Trump responded publicly by denying the claim and questioning Carroll’s credibility, leading to defamation lawsuits.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment publicly on the reported investigation beyond statements confirming that related matters had not been declined for review, according to Reuters and other outlets.
As of Wednesday evening, no court hearings connected to the reported inquiry had been announced, and both Trump’s appeals and the Justice Department investigation remained ongoing.
