The game has shifted. The US Justice Department, under Attorney General Merrick Garland, has opened an investigation into E Jean Carroll, the woman who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault. This is not a drill. It is a move that has sent shockwaves through the Westminster legal establishment.
Carroll, a journalist, won a landmark civil case against Trump last year. A jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation. She was awarded $5 million. Now, the DOJ is looking into her. Why? The official line is to examine potential conflicts of interest in her legal team. But UK legal experts are smelling something else. Politicisation.
Let me be clear. This is unprecedented. A federal agency probing a victim who already won a judgment. It reeks of retaliation. The timing is exquisite: Trump is the Republican frontrunner for 2024. His allies are cheering. His enemies are seething.
I spoke to a senior barrister in London, off the record. He said: 'This is what happens when the rule of law becomes a weapon. The DOJ is being used to settle scores, not uphold justice.' He is not alone. Several Queen’s Counsel have expressed alarm. They see a dangerous precedent.
The White House insists this is routine. They claim the investigation is about potential misconduct by Carroll's lawyers, not Carroll herself. But the optics are terrible. It looks like the DOJ is doing Trump’s bidding. Or, more cynically, hedging its bets.
Let’s talk about the mechanics. The DOJ has subpoenaed Carroll’s communications. They are digging into her legal funding. They are questioning her motives. This is exactly what Trump wanted all along: to paint her as a liar. And now, the US government is giving him cover.
In Westminster, the mood is grim. Labour MPs are calling it an abuse of power. Tories are keeping quiet, but some privately admit it stinks. One former attorney general told me: 'The US is a beacon for justice. This dims that light.'
What happens next? Carroll’s team will fight. They will argue the investigation is a fishing expedition. They may win. But the damage is done. The message has been sent: if you accuse a powerful man, expect the state to come after you.
This is not just a US story. It is a warning. The politicisation of justice is a disease. It spreads. The UK is not immune. We have our own scandals, our own accusations. The lesson is clear: when the system is compromised, trust collapses.
I am Eleanor Rigby, Political Bureau Chief. The game continues.
