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Reports emerged on Wednesday that the US Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the writer who accused President Donald Trump of sexual assault, but the top federal prosecutor in Chicago quickly denied that any such probe exists. The conflicting accounts come amid ongoing legal battles between Carroll and Trump, who has denied all wrongdoing.

US Attorney Andrew Boutros said in a statement on Thursday that "the Chicago US Attorney's Office can confirm that it has not opened and has never opened a criminal investigation into E Jean Carroll." His denial followed a Reuters report, citing a person familiar with the matter, that the Justice Department had begun an investigation led by the Chicago office into whether Carroll committed perjury in testimony tied to two civil lawsuits she won against Trump.

Coverage Comparison

Several news organizations, including CNN (which first reported the story), The New York Times, CBS News, and Reuters, reported that the investigation was underway. According to these reports, the probe would examine whether Carroll lied in a 2022 deposition when she said she received no outside funding for her legal battles. Her attorneys later revealed that Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn, had paid some of her legal fees and expenses.

The BBC, citing CBS News as its US partner, reported the investigation as confirmed, quoting sources. Deutsche Welle and the Jerusalem Post also reported the investigation as launched. However, ABC Australia's report centered on Boutros's denial, noting that the statement came after Reuters' initial report.

The denial by Boutros has not been addressed by other outlets in the materials reviewed, and Carroll's lawyer, Robbie Kaplan, did not respond to requests for comment from multiple news organizations.

Key Claims

  • Investigation reportedly opened: Multiple outlets, including CNN, The New York Times, CBS News, and Reuters, reported that the Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation into Carroll, focusing on potential perjury in her civil cases against Trump.
  • Official denial: US Attorney Andrew Boutros denied that any criminal investigation into Carroll had been opened, stating that his office "has not opened and has never opened" such a probe.
  • Focus on funding disclosures: The reported investigation would center on Carroll's 2022 deposition in which she said she received no outside financial support for her lawsuits. It was later revealed that Reid Hoffman's nonprofit had paid some legal fees, which Trump's lawyers argued undermined her credibility.
  • Past legal outcomes: In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million. Another jury in 2024 ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million in a separate defamation case. Trump has appealed both judgments.
  • Recusal reported: CNN and The New York Times reported that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recused himself from the investigation due to his previous role as one of Trump's personal attorneys in the Carroll appeals. ABC Australia did not mention this.
  • Carroll's accusations: Carroll accused Trump of raping her in the mid-1990s in a New York department store dressing room. Trump has denied the allegations, saying she was "not my type."

Perspectives

Some sources framed the reported investigation as part of a broader pattern by Trump's Justice Department targeting his perceived political opponents. Deutsche Welle used the phrase "perceived enemies," while The Guardian referred to "political opponents." These outlets noted that since last year, the administration has used government powers to launch investigations into the president's adversaries. Other reports, such as those from the Jerusalem Post and ABC Australia, focused more narrowly on the factual developments without drawing such conclusions.

As of now, the existence of the investigation remains disputed due to Boutros's denial. The conflicting reports highlight the need for further clarification from the Justice Department. Carroll's legal team has not publicly commented on the reports or the denial.