The co-hosts of ABC's The View unleashed a blistering critique Thursday of the Trump administration's decision to open a criminal investigation into writer E. Jean Carroll, who has already prevailed in two civil cases against the president over sexual abuse and defamation.
Whoopi Goldberg set the tone, asking: “Why is the administration spending time trying to relitigate this case that was already decided by two juries?” The panel’s frustration underscored a broader concern that the Justice Department is being weaponized to settle personal scores.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, who served as Trump’s White House communications director before becoming a co-host, questioned the political calculus. “Find me the sole voter who went out and voted in November because they wanted to see the Department of Justice at taxpayer expense investigate an 82-year-old woman,” she said. The comment echoed skepticism that the probe would resonate with voters worried about issues like food insecurity and rising healthcare costs.
The investigation, first reported by CNN Wednesday, centers on whether Carroll committed perjury during her two civil lawsuits against Trump. At issue is her testimony that no outside groups funded her legal fight, though her attorneys later disclosed that LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman helped cover some expenses. Two separate juries found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, awarding her $5 million in 2023 and $83.3 million the following year. Trump has denied the allegations and asked the Supreme Court to overturn the verdicts. A federal appeals court has allowed him to delay payment until the high court decides whether to take up the case.
Farah Griffin argued that the administration is reviving a story that had faded from public view. “From a P.R. standpoint, no one was talking about this. Literally no one has uttered the words E. Jean Carroll in months if not years,” she said. “I think he just wants his vengeance but he’s putting something that’s horrible for him back in the headlines.”
The move is the latest in a string of actions by Trump that critics describe as retribution against political adversaries. The administration has also faced scrutiny over its handling of disaster aid and trade policy, with House Democrats demanding a GAO probe into Trump's disaster aid denials and separate legal battles over tariff refunds.
Meanwhile, the president’s focus on Carroll has drawn comparisons to other controversial investigations and policy moves, including the launch of a new child savings program that has been overshadowed by the probe. The View panel’s reaction reflects a growing unease among political observers that the Justice Department is being used as a tool for personal vendettas rather than impartial law enforcement.
