The Justice Department has opened an investigation into E. Jean Carroll’s legal case against President Trump and the nonprofit organization that funded her lawsuits, according to reports this week.
Carroll won two civil cases against Trump in Manhattan, with jurors awarding her more than $88 million for defamation and sexual abuse claims related to an alleged 1990s incident. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, a major Democratic donor, funded Carroll’s legal efforts through his nonprofit organization, American Future Republic.
What the Investigation Covers
Federal prosecutors in the Northern District of Illinois are examining matters related to Carroll’s deposition and potential perjury, according to a source familiar with the probe. Carroll is not currently a subject of the investigation, the source said, with the focus primarily on the nonprofit organization and its financial activities.
In 2020, Hoffman’s nonprofit paid Carroll’s law firm $7 million, according to reporting. Carroll testified during her deposition that she did not recall Hoffman was helping finance at least one of the legal cases against Trump.
Timeline and Political Context
The litigation occurred during the 2020 Republican presidential primary, requiring Trump to spend significant time in a Manhattan courtroom while seeking his party’s nomination. Carroll, now 82, said in a May 2023 CNN appearance that she simply forgot to disclose Hoffman’s financial support under oath.
Hoffman has been a prominent Trump opponent for years, contributing at least $1 million to the Biden Victory Fund and $10 million to Future Forward during the 2024 election cycle, according to campaign finance records. He also donated $4 million to Republican Accountability PAC.
Political Reactions
Critics on the left have accused the Trump administration of weaponizing government against Carroll, while supporters of the investigation argue Hoffman’s extensive political spending and opposition to Trump warrant scrutiny of his involvement in the litigation.
“My primary motivation for participating in politics over the last eight years has been to oppose Donald Trump’s ongoing attempts to break American democracy,” Hoffman said in August 2024. Hoffman cited Trump’s support for the January 6 Capitol riot and efforts to overturn election results as reasons for his political engagement.
This story has been updated. CNN’s reporting team contributed to this report.
