The Department of Justice aligned with former President Trump has launched a criminal inquiry into E. Jean Carroll, the prominent woman awarded nearly $90 million in damages by juries after accusing Trump of sexual abuse. This move marks an unprecedented escalation, targeting a victim with a federal probe that many legal experts deem unfounded and politically motivated.
This investigation focuses on alleged perjury during Carroll’s civil deposition, a rare charge in federal criminal law and one that Trump’s legal team previously failed to substantiate at trial. Both the presiding judge and a unanimous appellate court dismissed these claims as irrelevant to the civil case. The current DOJ action diverges sharply from the usual standard for criminal prosecution, sparking accusations that the White House is weaponizing the Justice Department to intimidate or retaliate against political enemies.
The investigation advanced despite the recusal of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who had represented Trump personally in the past. Senior Justice Department officials reportedly referred the case to federal prosecutors in Chicago, an office currently under scrutiny for significant misconduct related to a separate case known as the Broadview Six. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office recently faced internal reforms to address grand jury practice failures, adding to skepticism about its handling of the Carroll matter.
This development follows a pattern of investigations and prosecutions perceived as retributive efforts by Trump’s DOJ, which critics say undermines the impartiality and independence traditionally expected of the department. Legal experts warn that pursuing criminal charges for deposition testimony inaccuracies—especially after multiple judicial rejections—sets a troubling precedent.