The Justice Department has reportedly opened a criminal investigation into writer E. Jean Carroll, the woman who successfully sued President Donald Trump in two high-profile civil cases connected to allegations that he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s.

According to multiple reports published Wednesday evening, federal prosecutors are now examining whether Carroll may have committed perjury during sworn testimony related to her lawsuits against Trump. The investigation is reportedly being overseen by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, though officials have not publicly confirmed specific details about the probe.

The reported investigation centers on statements Carroll made during a 2022 deposition tied to her legal battle against Trump. During that testimony, Carroll allegedly stated that no outside individuals or organizations were financing her lawsuits. However, later court disclosures reportedly revealed that some of her legal expenses were supported through a nonprofit organization connected to LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, a billionaire Democratic donor known for backing anti-Trump political causes and legal initiatives.

Federal investigators are reportedly reviewing whether Carroll’s statements under oath conflicted with the financial arrangements later disclosed by her attorneys. Legal experts note that the opening of a criminal investigation does not automatically mean charges will be filed, nor does it indicate wrongdoing has been proven.

CNN first reported the existence of the investigation Wednesday, citing multiple anonymous sources familiar with the matter. Other national media outlets later confirmed elements of the report.

Carroll first accused Trump of sexually assaulting her inside a dressing room at a Manhattan department store during the mid-1990s. Trump has consistently and repeatedly denied the allegations, arguing that the encounter never happened and claiming he did not know Carroll personally.

The legal fight between the two became one of the most closely watched courtroom battles involving Trump in recent years.

In 2023, a New York jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in Carroll’s first civil lawsuit, awarding her $5 million in damages. Jurors concluded that Carroll had proven her claims under New York’s civil standards, though Trump was not found liable for rape as defined under state law.

A second jury verdict followed in 2024 after Carroll sued Trump again over statements he made publicly denying her allegations and criticizing her credibility. In that case, the jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages for defamation, one of the largest defamation judgments in modern American political history.

Trump has appealed both verdicts, arguing that the trials were politically motivated and legally flawed.

The latest development adds another dramatic chapter to the long-running legal conflict between Trump and Carroll, especially as Trump continues serving as president while simultaneously battling multiple legal challenges on several fronts.

Reports also indicate that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has recused himself from any involvement in the investigation due to his prior work representing Trump in matters connected to Carroll’s lawsuits. Blanche’s recusal was reportedly intended to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest as federal prosecutors review the allegations surrounding Carroll’s deposition testimony.

As of Wednesday night, Carroll’s attorneys had not publicly commented on the reported investigation, and the Justice Department had not issued an official statement addressing the matter.

Whether the investigation ultimately results in criminal charges remains unclear, but the development is likely to intensify political and legal scrutiny surrounding one of the most controversial and closely followed cases involving President Trump.