Trump seeks retribution against E Jean Carroll

The Justice Department is reportedly investigating a nonprofit that helped fund E Jean Carroll’s legal fight against Donald Trump — a move that numerous commentators see as an act of political retribution. Trump has lost two civil trials to Carroll, who accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. The combined verdicts total $88.8 million, and the president is still fighting them on appeal.

The investigation focuses on America Future Republic, a group backed by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, a longtime Trump foe and Democratic donor. A source told reporters that possible charges include money-laundering conspiracy and obstruction. Chicago federal prosecutors, handling the inquiry, have denied reports that they are investigating Carroll directly. The White House referred questions to the Justice Department, which did not comment.

“The president is on his revenge tour, and the Department of Justice is doing his bidding,” said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers. “He is using the acting attorney general specifically to go after his political enemies, and probably one of the biggest ones right now is Jean Carroll.”

A personal blow to Trump’s ego

Trump did not attend the first trial, where a civil jury found he had sexually abused and defamed Carroll. The jury awarded her $5 million. A video deposition released during that case showed Trump mistaking a photo of Carroll for a picture of his second wife, Marla Maples.

He did show up for the second trial in January 2024, which set damages at $83.3 million. His behavior in court suggested the case still bothered him deeply. According to court transcripts and media reports, Trump repeatedly muttered insults and complaints during Carroll’s testimony.

“It’s loud enough for us to hear it,” Shawn Crowley, Carroll’s attorney, told the judge during a break. “I imagine it’s loud enough for the jury to hear it.” Judge Lewis Kaplan warned Trump that he could be removed if he kept disrupting proceedings. “Mr. Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial,” Kaplan said. Trump replied, “I would love it.”

Kaplan shot back: “I know you would, you just can’t control yourself in this circumstance, apparently.” Trump fired back, “You can’t either.”

“He doesn’t like people getting one up on him”

Brittany Martinez, a Republican strategist and executive director of Principles First, said the president’s response fits a pattern. “I feel like he’s accustomed to things going his way and when they don’t, especially in such a public forum, I think that really resonates with him,” she said. “It’s something that he held on to and waited until the time was right. I don’t think he likes people getting one up on him.”

The reported investigation, she argued, “feels like misplaced attention” when the country faces high gas prices and ongoing wars. “I don’t know why the administration has decided to pursue this right now,” Martinez said.

Ron Kuby, a civil rights attorney who has handled political prosecutions, noted that it’s hard to know what the administration is actually doing. “Often what the administration says has no relationship to the reality of what it is or is not doing,” Kuby said. He called the investigation “virtually unheard of” if it is indeed aimed at Carroll’s funding.

Trump’s courtroom meltdown

During the second trial, Trump’s attorneys tried to limit his testimony. When asked whether he denied Carroll’s allegation, Trump started to speak beyond a simple denial. Judge Kaplan cut him off, citing the first trial’s verdict. Later, as Carroll’s lead attorney Roberta Kaplan gave her closing argument, Trump got up and walked out. “Excuse me,” Judge Kaplan said, “the record will reflect that Mr. Trump just rose and walked out of the courtroom.” He returned for his own lawyer’s closing.

The Supreme Court has not yet decided whether to hear Trump’s appeal of the $5 million verdict. The $83.3 million judgment is also under appeal.

“It’s obviously retribution”

Tre Lovell, a Los Angeles-based attorney, said the apparent animus Trump feels toward Carroll likely stems from ego. “I think it was just something very personal to him,” Lovell said. Being accused of sexual assault “is about as bad as it gets.”

Hoffman, the billionaire backing the nonprofit, denied wrongdoing on X, writing: “Trump’s newest accusation of me is absurdly false. The premise of the investigation would be laughable if the subject matter weren’t so serious. He is investigating me because I supported E Jean’s lawsuit.”

No grand jury subpoenas or search warrants have been reported in connection with the investigation. Without such public steps, Kuby said, it’s impossible to know the inquiry’s real scope — but the motive is clear. “It’s obviously retribution for her lawsuit and for the successful culmination of her trial.”