The U.S. Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation Wednesday into whether writer E. Jean Carroll committed perjury during civil litigation [1].
The probe marks a significant escalation in the legal conflict between Carroll and former President Donald Trump. While Carroll previously won civil judgments against Trump, this federal inquiry shifts the focus toward her own potential criminal liability regarding the truthfulness of her testimony.
Federal investigators are examining whether Carroll lied under oath during the civil cases [2]. These lawsuits centered on accusations of sexual assault and defamation, which eventually resulted in a $5 million [3] judgment awarded to Carroll.
The investigation was reported to have launched on May 27, 2026 [4]. The Department of Justice is conducting the inquiry from its headquarters in Washington, D.C. [5].
Legal proceedings in the civil courts focused on the preponderance of evidence to determine liability. However, a criminal perjury investigation requires the government to prove that a witness willfully provided false testimony regarding a material fact, a higher burden of proof than that used in the previous civil trials.
Carroll has previously used the civil courts to seek damages for the harm caused by the former president's denials. The current inquiry examines the validity of the testimony that led to those awards [6].
“The Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into whether Carroll committed perjury”
This investigation represents a transition from civil liability to potential criminal prosecution. By focusing on perjury, the Department of Justice is scrutinizing the integrity of the testimony that underpinned a multi-million dollar judgment, potentially challenging the legal foundation of Carroll's previous victories in court.
