{"id":2435922,"date":"2026-05-28T20:50:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T20:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2435922"},"modified":"2026-05-28T20:50:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T20:50:10","slug":"doj-launches-criminal-probe-involving-e-jean-carroll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/doj-launches-criminal-probe-involving-e-jean-carroll\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ Launches Criminal Probe Involving E. Jean Carroll"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The Department of Justice is launching a criminal investigation that involves <strong>E. Jean Carroll<\/strong>, who previously accused President <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/donald-trump\/\"><strong>Donald Trump<\/strong><\/a> of sexual abuse.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/05\/27\/politics\/exclusive-justice-department-launched-e-jean-carroll-investigation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">celebrity.land<\/a> reported that the Department of Justice is looking into whether Carroll, 82, committed perjury in testimony from her two civil lawsuits against the president. Carroll previously sued Trump, 79, for allegedly sexually assaulting her in a department store dressing room in the \u201890s and for defaming her in 2019 when denying the allegations.<\/p>\n<p>The Justice Department\u2019s investigation focuses on a statement Carroll made during a 2022 deposition. The journalist stated that she received no outside funding for her lawsuit. However, it was later revealed that billionaire <strong>Reid Hoffman<\/strong> paid some of her legal fees and expenses via his nonprofit.<\/p>\n<p>Attorney General <strong>Todd Blanche<\/strong> has recused himself from the probe, per the outlet. Before replacing <strong>Pam Bondi<\/strong>, Blanche worked as one of Trump\u2019s personal attorneys on the Carroll case. The investigation will be helmed by the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.<\/p>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article__thumbnail related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/donald-trump-ordered-to-pay-e-jean-carroll-83-million-after-trial\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content\">\n<h3 class=\"article__title\">\n\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article__title-link related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/donald-trump-ordered-to-pay-e-jean-carroll-83-million-after-trial\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"related-badge\">Related: <\/span><span class=\"related-title\">Donald Trump Ordered to Pay E. Jean Carroll $83 Million After Trial<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\tDonald Trump must pay E. Jean Carroll a total of $83.3 million in damages after defaming her in 2019. A jury ruled on Friday, January 26, that Trump, 77, must pay the journalist, 80, after disparaging her while denying her rape allegations. Carroll will receive $11 million for damage to her reputation, $7.3 million for [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>A source with knowledge of the case tells <em>Us Weekly<\/em> that Carroll is \u201cnot the subject of the investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe investigation is related to her deposition and perjury but it\u2019s more focused on Reid Hoffman\u2019s nonprofit,\u201d the insider explains.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for the Department of Justice told <em>Us<\/em> that they \u201cdo not comment on investigations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Us<\/em> has reached out to Carroll\u2019s spokesperson for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Carroll and Trump\u2019s legal issues began in 2019 when the journalist accused him of rape. Trump vehemently denied the allegations while claiming that Carroll wasn\u2019t his type and subsequently accused her of making up the alleged assault to boost sales of her book.<\/p>\n<p>Trump and Carroll went to trial for the first lawsuit in 2023. A jury found that Carroll had not proven that Trump raped her, but she did prove that Trump was responsible for a lesser degree of sexual abuse. They also found that Trump defamed Carroll with false statements made with actual malice. Carroll was awarded $5 million in damages from Trump. Later that year, Trump appealed the verdict and the judge denied his request for a new trial.<\/p>\n<div id=\"news-block\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form  \">\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/themes\/us-weekly\/assets\/img\/newsletter-bg-narrow.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"newsletter-form__background background-narrow\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/themes\/us-weekly\/assets\/img\/newsletter-bg-wide.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"newsletter-form__background background-wide\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter-signup__success\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<h3>Thank You!<\/h3>\n<p>You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article__thumbnail related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/why-was-pam-bondi-fired-her-replacement-revealed-after-leaving-donald-trumps-administration\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2262660163-why-was-pam-bondi-fired-e1775177711792.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&amp;resize=400%2C225&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2262660163-why-was-pam-bondi-fired-e1775177711792.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&amp;resize=200%2C113&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2262660163-why-was-pam-bondi-fired-e1775177711792.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&amp;resize=300%2C169&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2262660163-why-was-pam-bondi-fired-e1775177711792.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&amp;resize=400%2C225&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 400w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2262660163-why-was-pam-bondi-fired-e1775177711792.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&amp;resize=600%2C338&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 600w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2262660163-why-was-pam-bondi-fired-e1775177711792.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&amp;resize=800%2C450&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 800w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2262660163-why-was-pam-bondi-fired-e1775177711792.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&amp;resize=900%2C506&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 900w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2262660163-why-was-pam-bondi-fired-e1775177711792.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&amp;resize=1000%2C563&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1000w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2262660163-why-was-pam-bondi-fired-e1775177711792.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&amp;resize=1200%2C675&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2262660163-why-was-pam-bondi-fired-e1775177711792.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&amp;resize=1600%2C900&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1600w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2262660163-why-was-pam-bondi-fired-e1775177711792.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&amp;resize=1800%2C1012&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1800w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2262660163-why-was-pam-bondi-fired-e1775177711792.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&amp;resize=1920%2C1080&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 770px) calc(100vw - 6em), 200px\" alt=\"GettyImages-2262660163 why was pam bondi fired\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content\">\n<h3 class=\"article__title\">\n\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article__title-link related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/why-was-pam-bondi-fired-her-replacement-revealed-after-leaving-donald-trumps-administration\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"related-badge\">Related: <\/span><span class=\"related-title\">Why Was Pam Bondi Fired? Her Replacement Revealed<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\tPresident Donald Trump has announced another cabinet shakeup with the departure of Attorney General Pam Bondi. Trump sent shockwaves through the beltway on April 2, 2026, when he announced that Bondi will soon be leaving his administration for \u201ca much needed and important new job.\u201d However, multiple media outlets reported that Bondi was actually fired [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>One year later, Trump and Carroll were back in court for her defamation lawsuit. In January 2024, the jury awarded Carroll $11 million for damage to her reputation, $7.3 million for emotional harm and $65 million in punitive damages.<\/p>\n<p>After news broke of the outcome, Trump took to social media to slam the ruling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAbsolutely ridiculous! I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole [<strong>Joe<\/strong>] <strong>Biden<\/strong> Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party,\u201d he wrote via Truth Social. \u201cOur Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.usmagazine.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Department of Justice is launching a criminal investigation that involves E. Jean Carroll, who previously accused President Donald Trump of sexual abuse. celebrity.land reported that the Department of Justice is looking into whether Carroll, 82, committed perjury in testimony from her two civil lawsuits against the president. Carroll previously sued Trump, 79, for allegedly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2435923,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25177],"tags":[22367,24003,233436,22048],"class_list":["post-2435922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities","tag-celebrity","tag-celebrity-news","tag-celebrity-scandals","tag-politics"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DOJ-Launches-Criminal-Probe-Involving-E-Jean-Carroll.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2435922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2435922"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2435922\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2435924,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2435922\/revisions\/2435924"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2435923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2435922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2435922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2435922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}