Woman suing Donald Trump over sexual assault allegations faces Justice Department investigation: report

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into whether author and former advice columnist Jean Carroll lied under oath in a civil lawsuit against the U.S. president Donald TrumpAccording to US media reports.Federal prosecutors in Chicago are investigating and are reviewing Carroll’s testimony in the lawsuit against Trump for possible perjury, the Associated Press reported.Acting Attorney General Todd Branch has recused himself from the case because he previously served as Trump’s personal attorney, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.Prosecutors are specifically investigating whether Carroll falsely stated in a 2022 deposition that she received no outside financial support for her lawsuit.The issue later surfaced when billionaire entrepreneur Red Hoffman used a nonprofit to help pay some of his legal fees and expenses.

Investigations related to fund disclosure disputes

In a 2022 videotaped deposition, Carroll reportedly told Trump attorney Alina Habba that no outside group was funding her legal action. However, Carroll’s legal team later informed the court before trial that Hoffman’s nonprofit had provided financial support, CNN reported.Trump’s lawyers accused Carroll’s side of withholding the information for months.The judge then allowed Trump’s legal team to question Carroll again in a second deposition, although that testimony has not yet been made public.

Civil case against Trump

Carroll had accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. Trump has denied the accusations and described them as a “fabricated hoax.”In 2023, a jury found Trump responsible for Carroll’s sexual abuse and awarded her $5 million in damages.A year later, another jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in a defamation case after Trump repeatedly attacked her publicly.Earlier this month, a federal appeals court allowed Trump to delay payment of a defamation ruling while the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether to hear his appeal.Trump was ordered to post a $7.4 million bond to cover additional interest costs.The investigation is the latest in a series of actions by the Trump administration’s Justice Department targeting individuals deemed political opponents.Critics, including Democrats and former officials, worry the department is increasingly being used for political retaliation.Senior Justice Department officials referred the matter to Chicago prosecutors because one of the organizations tied to Carroll’s legal funding is based in Chicago.