US prosecutor denies launching criminal investigation into E Jean Carroll

A federal prosecutor has confirmed that no criminal investigation has been opened into E Jean Carroll, despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise. The clarification comes amid ongoing legal battles between Carroll and former President Donald Trump, who has denied all allegations of wrongdoing. Carroll’s legal team has disclosed that billionaire Reid Hoffman contributed to her legal expenses, a detail scrutinized during the case. The controversy stems from a 2022 deposition statement by Carroll, which prompted scrutiny but did not lead to formal charges. An appeals court ruled in 2024 that Carroll’s claim of forgetting about limited outside funding for her legal counsel was plausible, and further discovery did not contradict her statement. This legal nuance is significant in the broader context of the defamation and sexual assault claims Carroll has made against Trump. In May 2023, a jury found that Trump had sexually assaulted Carroll and defamed her by making false statements, though it did not conclude that he raped her. A subsequent jury ruling in January 2024 reinforced the defamation verdict and ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million in damages. Despite these rulings, Trump continues to deny all accusations and remains engaged in ongoing litigation with Carroll. The situation is further complicated by the involvement of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who has recused himself from the Justice Department’s investigation due to his prior role as one of Trump’s personal attorneys during Carroll’s appeals. This development highlights the complexities and potential conflicts within the Justice Department as it navigates politically sensitive cases involving the former president.