Analyses note the investigation may not lead to charges and emphasize the broader political and legal battles surrounding Carroll and Trump.

Prominent Democrats criticized the inquiry as undermining victims and overstepping legal norms.

A prior appellate ruling found Carroll plausibly forgot details about outside funding, and that questions about funding during trial were appropriately limited.

The situation is developing and could be updated as new information emerges.

A U.S. DOJ criminal probe is examining E. Jean Carroll’s deposition statements about not receiving outside funding for her lawsuits, amid broader fallout from her defamation case against Donald Trump.

Neither Carroll’s representatives nor the DOJ provided comment at the time, and Trump’s camp has also not commented on the federal probe.

The New York Times’ Glenn Thrush is reporting on the DOJ involvement and related developments.

The Chicago-based U.S. Attorney’s Office leads the investigation, which may not necessarily result in charges against Carroll.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recused himself from the matter, with Andrew Boutros reportedly overseeing the probe in Chicago.

The investigation centers on whether Carroll perjured herself in a 2022 deposition, with attention to funding disclosures that have drawn scrutiny since later reports showed some funding came from billionaire Reid Hoffman.

reporters note that the story describes the existence and scope of the investigation and would benefit from further details such as charges or timing if available.

CNN’s Paula Reid anchors the coverage, signaling a television-news framing of the development.