Article #37663

According to people familiar with the matter, the LinkedIn founder, not Carroll, is primary subject of investigation

The justice department’s inquiry into E Jean Carroll is part of an investigation into an entity backed by the LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, according to people familiar with the matter. A source familiar with the investigation told the Guardian that Carroll is not the subject of the investigation, but said that it was related to Carroll and her deposition, and is more focused on Hoffman’s non-profit.

A Hoffman-backed non-profit, American Future Republic, helped fund a lawsuit in which Carroll won $5m in damages in 2023 against Trump based on allegations Trump sexually assaulted and defamed her. Carroll won a second, $83.3m defamation award against the president in 2024. Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations against him.