Donald Trump faces mounting legal scrutiny after losing two defamation cases to former Elle magazine columnist E.Jean Carroll, who accused him of sexual assault.Carroll was awarded nearly $90 million across the cases, findings which Trump has appealed with the support of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Recently, reports suggested that the DOJ, under Trump’s administration, might initiate a criminal investigation into Carroll, allegedly related to the funding of her legal defence by a nonprofit organisation connected to billionaire Reid Hoffman.

Legal experts and advocates warn that such a move, if true, represents an unprecedented form of political retribution and could deter other survivors from seeking justice.Carroll’s lawyers emphasise that the funding arrangements were already litigated and found not to affect her credibility.

Critics argue that resources devoted to investigating Carroll divert attention from genuine criminal cases, while simultaneously sending a chilling message to survivors of sexual abuse.

Observers note that Trump has historically targeted perceived political enemies and that the DOJ’s actions in Carroll’s case could undermine public trust in its impartiality.

Carroll’s case highlights broader issues about how survivors of sexual violence are treated in high-profile legal disputes and the potential misuse of governmental power in politically charged contexts.