The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the funding of E. Jean Carroll's successful civil lawsuit against President Trump. The probe is being led by the U.S. attorney's office in the Northern District of Illinois.
The investigation stems from Carroll's 2023 civil judgment in New York, where she won damages for sexual abuse and defamation. A second judgment for defamation followed in 2024. Officials said the focus is on how the case was funded, though experts note that paying for legal costs is not illegal.