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  "path": "/news/2026/05/27/justice-department-doj-prosecution-e-jean-carroll-trump-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-plaintiff-boutros",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-28T01:51:57.381Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>The Justice Department earlier this year referred an investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the longtime advice columnist who accused President Donald Trump of sexual assault, to federal prosecutors in Chicago, a law enforcement source told the Chicago Sun-Times.</p><p>That investigation is active within U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros’ office, the source said. </p><p>Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor Boutros' office immediately responded to requests for comment Wednesday night. The story was first reported by <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/27/politics/exclusive-justice-department-launched-e-jean-carroll-investigation\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>CNN</u></a>.</p><p>Prosecutors are focused on a 2022 deposition by Carroll in which she said she received no outside funding for her legal action against Trump, though it was later revealed that billionaire LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman had chipped in for some legal fees and expenses, CNN reported. Hoffman has a nonprofit based in Chicago.</p><p>In January 2024, as Trump closed in on the Republican presidential nomination, a jury awarded $83.3 million to Carroll in that same suit for Trump’s continued social media attacks against her over her <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/6/21/18701574/e-jean-carroll-donald-trump-rape\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>claims that he sexually assaulted her</u></a> in a Manhattan department store. That total includes a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/5/9/23717528/jury-finds-trump-liable-for-sexual-abuse-awards-accuser-e-jean-carroll-5-million\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>$5 million sexual abuse and defamation verdict</u></a> in May 2023 she was awarded by another jury.</p><p>The jury that issued the May 2023 verdict rejected Carroll’s claim that she was raped, finding Trump responsible for a lesser degree of sexual abuse. The judgment offered vindication to Carroll, whose allegations had been mocked and dismissed by Trump for years.</p><p>Trump has since appealed the awards multiple times, including to the Supreme Court, which has <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-abuse-defamation-670dd7ed241e22c52bd16e82a9febf69\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>repeatedly rejected</u></a> the president’s requests to hear the case.</p><p>It comes at a time when Boutros’ office is embroiled in the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/27/broadview-six-boutros-kat-abughazaleh-ice-trump-chicago-broadview\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>biggest credibility crisis it has faced in recent memory</u></a>.</p><p>The “Broadview Six” case against six Operation Midway Blitz protesters <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/21/broadview-ice-protest-grand-jury-transcript-kat-abughazaleh-trump\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>fell apart days before trial</u></a> after a judge discovered improprieties during grand jury proceedings.</p><p>The alleged misconduct by prosecutors came to light only after a lengthy push by defense attorneys to get the judge to <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/04/broadview-six-grand-jury-transcript-conspiracy\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>review unredacted transcripts</u></a> of what occurred, and shockwaves from the case have begun to reach <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/27/broadview-six-boutros-kat-abughazaleh-ice-trump-chicago-broadview\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>courts outside of Illinois</u></a>.</p><p><i>Contributing: AP</i></p><div class=\"RelatedList Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center> <div class=\"RelatedList-title\">Related</div> <ul class=\"RelatedList-items\"> <li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/1/17/24042020/trump-sexual-assault-trial-damages-jean-carroll-testimony-judge-warning-courtoom\" target=\"_blank\" >Judge threatens to boot Trump from courtroom</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p></p>",
  "title": "DOJ investigation referred E. Jean Carroll for prosecution in Chicago",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-28T02:13:20.150Z"
}