The Justice Department opened a criminal investigation in May 2026 into E. Jean Carroll, examining possible perjury tied to her testimony and statements in the two federal civil cases against President Trump over the 1996 allegations and subsequent defamation claims. The probe also reportedly reviews nonprofit funding connected to her litigation. No charges have been filed as of mid-August 2026, leaving the outcome dependent on evidence gathered by federal prosecutors. Ongoing Supreme Court petitions in the parallel civil appeals, including a potential August 17 ruling on rehearing requests, could influence related legal dynamics but do not directly resolve the criminal matter. Traders weigh the investigation's trajectory, historical perjury charging patterns in high-profile cases, and any upcoming procedural milestones against the absence of formal indictments to date.