Reports indicate DOJ criminal inquiry into Carroll perjury allegation
The Story
According to reporting in CNN and the New York Times, the Justice Department has opened a criminal inquiry into journalist E. Jean Carroll for alleged perjury during a deposition. Carroll won $88.3 million in damages from President Donald Trump after federal juries determined he sexually abused her in 1996 and later defamed her. The alleged perjury centers on whether Carroll lied about who was paying her legal fees during a 2022 deposition.
Key Facts
- The Justice Department has reportedly opened a criminal inquiry into E. Jean Carroll for alleged perjury.
- A federal jury previously awarded Carroll $88.3 million in damages, finding Trump sexually abused her in 1996 and defamed her.
- The perjury allegation revolves around Carroll’s 2022 deposition answer about who was paying her legal fees, after a 2020 funding source from Reid Hoffman was disclosed.
- The Second Circuit ruled unanimously that Carroll plausibly represented she had forgotten about the 2020 funding when asked in 2022.
- Barb McQuade, a law professor and former US attorney, said prosecutors would likely be unable to secure a conviction because a jury already believed Carroll and the criminal burden of proof is higher.
- The article notes that the Trump administration’s Justice Department has repeatedly failed to secure indictments against other opponents, citing examples involving James Comey, six Democratic lawmakers, Jerome Powell, anti-ICE protesters, and Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
Whether the DOJ will bring formal charges against Carroll, or if any evidence exists that she knowingly lied about the funding, remains unclear.
Misconceptions
The source article addresses the potential misconception that the perjury case against Carroll is strong, stating that a court has already decided the question in her favor and that the criminal burden of proof is higher than in the civil case.
Key Figures
- E. Jean Carroll – journalist and plaintiff
- President Donald Trump – defendant
- Barb McQuade – law professor, former US attorney
- Reid Hoffman – Democratic mega-donor
Sources: vox.com
