US Justice Department launches perjury probe into E. Jean Carroll
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recuses himself from inquiry; broader investigations raise concerns over prosecutorial independence
The United States Justice Department has opened a perjury investigation into columnist E. Jean Carroll, examining whether she provided false testimony during the course of civil litigation against President Donald Trump. The inquiry is being led by federal prosecutors based in Chicago, according to a source close to the matter who confirmed the development to the Associated Press on Thursday.
The investigation focuses on allegations that Carroll lied while testifying in the civil cases that resulted in significant damages being awarded against the president. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to publicly discuss an ongoing inquiry, did not specify the exact nature of the alleged perjury. Lawyers for Carroll did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is not involved in the probe due to his prior role as President Trump’s personal attorney. This recusal ensures that the investigation proceeds without direct oversight from the department’s top official, who previously represented the president in legal matters. The existence of the probe was first reported by CNN.
The development follows a series of legal actions initiated by the Trump administration’s Justice Department against perceived adversaries. These include an indictment secured last month against former FBI Director James Comey. Such moves have prompted alarm among Democrats and former officials, who fear that an institution traditionally tasked with making independent prosecutorial decisions is being weaponised for political purposes.
Carroll’s legal battles began with a 2023 civil trial that found Trump liable for sexually abusing her in 1996 at a New York department store, awarding her $5 million in damages. A subsequent jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in a defamation case related to Trump’s social media attacks on her. A court entry earlier this month indicated that Trump will not be required to pay the defamation award until the US Supreme Court reviews the case or rejects an appeal.
While the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to delay payment, it required Trump to post a $7.4 million bond to cover additional interest costs, a condition requested by Carroll’s attorney. The perjury investigation adds a new layer of legal complexity to the long-standing dispute between the columnist and the president.
