The U.S. Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into writer E. Jean Carroll on May 27, 2024 [1].
The move is significant because Carroll has spent years in legal battles with former President Donald Trump. A criminal probe by the federal government marks a sharp escalation in the legal pressure facing the writer.
Federal officials in Washington, D.C., initiated the investigation [1]. The Justice Department said it has not disclosed the specific reason for opening the criminal probe [1], [2].
Carroll previously won a civil defamation suit against Donald Trump. An appeals court upheld a judgment against him totaling $83.3 million [4]. Other reports have cited a figure of $5 million in damages related to the case [1].
This investigation follows years of high-profile litigation. Carroll accused the former president of sexual abuse, leading to multiple civil trials, and substantial financial awards. The current criminal inquiry is separate from those civil proceedings.
Because the DOJ has not provided a public justification for the probe, the legal basis for the investigation remains unclear. The Department of Justice said it has not released further details regarding the scope of the inquiry or whether specific charges are being considered.
“The Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll”
The launch of a criminal investigation by the DOJ into a private citizen who has successfully sued a former president creates a complex legal and political precedent. While civil courts determine financial liability, a criminal probe carries the possibility of incarceration, shifting the stakes of the ongoing conflict between Carroll and Donald Trump.
