DOJ launches criminal inquiry into E. Jean Carroll: Sources

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]The Justice Department launching a criminal investigation into Eugene Carroll, the magazine columnist who successfully sued President Trump for sexual abuse and defamation. Sources tell ABC News the investigation is allegedly centered around whether Carol committed perjury during her civil lawsuits against Trump. Carol was awarded a $5 million civil judgment in 2023 that found Trump liable for sexually abusing her in a department store dressing room in the mid 1990s and defaming her. The day after Carol telling ABC why she decided to come forward.

[00:00:35]>> I only decided to come forward until what happened. Uh, I thought that was enough and um then he said terrible things about me. Dragged me through the mound my face in the dirt.

[00:00:51]>> The president has long maintained his innocence.

[00:00:54]>> But as far as I know, I never met her.

[00:00:58]I never touched her. Uh, I have I would have had no interest in meeting her in any way, shape, or form. Last November, the president asked the Supreme Court to overturn the case. And earlier this month, Trump won a delay in another defamation case in which he was ordered to pay Carol more than $83 million for defaming her by calling her a liar and her claim a hoax. Now, the Justice Department going even further, targeting Carol directly. The new investigation just the latest in a long string of actions directed at the president's rivals. Just last month, the Justice Department indicted former FBI director James Comey, Trump's longtime nemesis, for the second time. Trump blames Comey for the investigation into Russian interference in his 2016 campaign and has urged his DOJ to go after him. The president has also been calling for federal prosecutors to use the criminal justice system to go after other political opponents, including former Fed Chair Jerome Powell, New York Attorney General Leticia James, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, and former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

[00:02:10]Now, as for Eugene Carol, her attorneys haven't responded to our requests for comment. The Justice Department isn't commenting this morning either. And the acting attorney general, Todd Blanch, is of course President Trump's former personal attorney. He handled this matter for him. We are told though that he has recused himself from this new investigation. George >> and Mary, the case against Leticia James, the initial case against James Comey, both dismissed. Thanks very much.