The United States Department of Justice has initiated a criminal investigation into E Jean Carroll, the writer who accused former President Donald Trump of sexual assault. The probe marks a significant escalation in the legal proceedings surrounding the case, moving beyond the civil defamation lawsuit that Carroll filed against Trump in 2019.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the investigation is focused on potential perjury and obstruction of justice related to Carroll's statements and actions during the civil litigation. The Justice Department has not issued a formal statement, but officials confirmed that a federal grand jury in New York has been convened to examine evidence and hear testimony.
Carroll, a longtime columnist for Elle magazine, publicly accused Trump of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump has denied the allegations, asserting that he never met Carroll and that her story is fabricated. In June 2022, a federal judge ruled that Trump could be held liable for defamation for statements he made while president, rejecting his claim of absolute immunity.
The criminal investigation introduces a new dimension to a case that has already attracted considerable public and legal scrutiny. Legal analysts note that bringing charges against an accuser in a high-profile sexual assault case is unusual and could have a chilling effect on other victims coming forward. The Justice Department under Attorney General Merrick Garland has faced pressure from some conservative groups to examine whether Carroll engaged in false testimony.
Carroll's legal team has denounced the probe as a politically motivated attempt to intimidate their client. In a statement, they said: "This investigation is an abuse of power. It seeks to punish a survivor for daring to speak truth to power. We will vigorously defend Ms Carroll against these baseless allegations."
The investigation is expected to proceed slowly, with potential charges unlikely before the 2024 election cycle. The case remains a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over accountability for sexual misconduct and the politicisation of the justice system.
