Justice Department investigates E. Jean Carroll’s civil lawsuits

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating E. Jean Carroll’s civil lawsuits against President Donald Trump, two sources told nbc News. Carroll accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a department store in the mid-1990s. In 2023, a jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation and awarded her $5 million. A 2024 jury added $83.3 million in a separate defamation case. Trump denies all allegations and is appealing both verdicts. The probe focuses on possible perjury regarding Carroll’s legal costs, which were partially funded by a nonprofit backed by billionaire Democratic Party donor Reid Hoffman. Trump’s critics are accusing him of unlawfully using government resources to punish his enemies.