The Department of Justice opened an inquiry in May 2026 examining statements E. Jean Carroll made in 2022 depositions about outside funding for her civil lawsuits against President Trump, which produced a $5 million verdict upheld by the Supreme Court in June and finalized in August after rehearing was denied. Reporting initially described Carroll as a potential perjury target, but the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois immediately stated his office had never opened a criminal case against her, with subsequent accounts indicating the focus shifted to a nonprofit tied to Reid Hoffman that covered some litigation costs. No charges have been filed, and the probe has generated no public updates since late May. Key variables for traders include whether the inquiry produces evidence sufficient for federal prosecutors to pursue perjury or false-statement charges, any timeline constraints on the underlying civil testimony, and the status of Trump's separate appeal of the larger $83 million defamation judgment.