Justice Department examines nonprofit funding of E. Jean Carroll litigation

Federal prosecutors in northern Illinois are examining funding connections tied to E. Jean Carroll's lawsuits against President Trump. The review centers on a nonprofit organization that provided financial support for the litigation. Headlines last week suggested the Justice Department was investigating Carroll for perjury.

Those reports prompted criticism from Democrats and Trump critics before being corrected.

Funding Review Details U.S. Attorney Andrew S.

Boutros stated on May 28, 2026, that the Chicago office was reviewing the matter due to widespread reporting. A source familiar with the inquiry told the Washington Examiner that investigators are looking at outside circumstances surrounding perjury allegations and funding connections to the nonprofit American Future Republic.

Public records show the organization, where Reid Hoffman is listed as president, has distributed nearly $21 million to other nonprofits. Carroll initially stated in an October 2022 deposition that she received no outside funding for her litigation.

Carroll filed lawsuits against President Trump beginning in 2019. A New York jury in 2023 found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding $5 million in damages. A second jury awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million in 2024. Trump continues to challenge both judgments on appeal, including arguments about presidential immunity and limits on evidence presented at trial.