Justice Department reported to investigate nonprofit tied to Carroll lawsuits

Multiple news outlets reported that the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation connected to E. Jean Carroll's civil lawsuits against a former president. The reported focus includes whether Carroll committed perjury and whether a nonprofit that covered some of her legal costs violated any rules.

The nonprofit, American Future Republic, is backed by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Reuters reported that investigators are examining the group's role in paying Carroll's litigation expenses.

Reported statements from Hoffman Hoffman posted a five-part thread on X on Friday responding to the reports. He wrote that the scrutiny was "absurdly false" and accused officials of using federal power to target critics. "Trump cannot be allowed to use the full weight and power of the US Government to come after women who speak up, or anyone who supports them in doing so," Hoffman stated in the thread.

Background on the Carroll cases A Manhattan federal jury in 2023 found the defendant liable for sexual abuse and defamation and awarded Carroll $5 million. A second jury in 2024 ordered the defendant to pay Carroll an additional $83.3 million for defamation.

The reported investigation centers on a 2022 deposition in which Carroll said no one was paying her legal fees. Her lawyers later disclosed that American Future Republic funds helped cover some costs nearly a year after the lawsuit was filed. The judge in the civil cases ruled the funding disclosure had no bearing on Carroll's credibility and barred questions about it at trial.

Representatives for Hoffman, Carroll, the White House, and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.