US Justice Department Investigates E. Jean Carroll Over Deposition Statements

Washington D.C. The US Justice Department has initiated a criminal investigation into former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, who has accused President Donald Trump of sexual assault. The investigation centers on the possibility that Carroll may have lied in her statements in two civil lawsuits. One of these lawsuits alleges that Trump sexually assaulted Carroll in the mid-1990s at a New York department store. The second lawsuit concerns Trump's denial of the accusations and defamation of her in 2019.

According to prosecutors, the main dispute is Carroll's statement in a deposition in 2022 that 'no outside person paid for the costs of the lawsuit.' However, it was later revealed that billionaire Reid Hoffman had paid for part of her legal expenses. Carroll's lawyers have not yet responded to this matter. Attempts to contact Hoffman have also reportedly been unsuccessful.

This investigation comes amid criticism of the Justice Department for targeting Trump's political and personal opponents. The Justice Department, currently led by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, is attempting to expedite Trump's legal retribution campaign. However, many of these cases are likely to face challenges in court due to political influence. Blanche was previously Trump's personal lawyer and was involved in appeals related to Carroll. Therefore, he has been recused from this particular investigation.

According to sources, this case is being handled by the office of the Deputy Attorney General of the US Justice Department, and the case has been sent to federal prosecutors in Chicago for investigation. The basis of the investigation is Carroll's 2022 video deposition, in which she stated that no outside entity or person paid her legal expenses. However, just two weeks before the trial began, her lawyers informed that some expenses were covered through Hoffman's non-profit organization.

Carroll's lawyers have claimed that she never contacted the organization. Trump's lawyer Alina Habba called this an attempt to hide the truth. Judge Lewis Kaplan later allowed Trump's lawyers to depose Carroll again, but also stated that there were no serious questions regarding her credibility. Carroll is currently involved in other legal cases related to Trump. Juries have already awarded her millions of dollars in damages. Trump has appealed these verdicts in the appellate court. Trump has also attempted to take these verdicts to the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has repeatedly postponed its decision on whether to accept Trump's appeal, with the latest delay occurring on Wednesday. In another case, Trump had asked the Justice Department to include him as a defendant. The court rejected that claim, citing it was raised too late.