History of E. Jean Carroll in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 12, 2026

E. Jean Carroll is an American journalist, author, and advice columnist, best known for her long-running column 'Ask E. Jean' in Elle magazine. Beyond her media career, she gained significant national attention for her legal battles against former U.S. President Donald Trump. In 2019, Carroll publicly accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store dressing room during the mid-1990s. This accusation led to a high-profile defamation and battery lawsuit. In 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll substantial damages. A subsequent 2024 trial regarding further defamatory statements resulted in another significant judgment in her favor. Her case has become a landmark moment in the #MeToo movement, highlighting issues of sexual misconduct accountability and the legal ramifications of public speech.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

December 12, 1943: Birth of Elizabeth Jean Carroll

Elizabeth Jean Carroll was born on December 12, 1943, marking the beginning of the life of the future American journalist, author, and advice columnist.

1963: Crowned Miss Indiana University

In 1963, while attending Indiana University Bloomington, E. Jean Carroll was crowned Miss Indiana University.

1964: Miss Cheerleader USA Title and Television Appearance

In 1964, E. Jean Carroll won the Miss Cheerleader USA title representing Indiana University and also made an appearance on the television program To Tell the Truth.

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1984: Divorce from first husband

In 1984, E. Jean Carroll finalized the divorce from her first husband, whom she had lived with in Montana prior to her move to New York City.

1986: Writing for Saturday Night Live

In 1986, E. Jean Carroll began her tenure as a writer for the twelfth season of the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live.

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1987: Primetime Emmy Award Nomination

During 1987, E. Jean Carroll received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series at the 39th Primetime Emmy Awards, though the Television Academy incorrectly recorded her name as Jean E. Carroll.

1990: Divorce from John Johnson

E. Jean Carroll and her second husband, the anchorman and artist John Johnson, officially divorced in 1990.

1993: Launch of Ask E. Jean Column

In 1993, E. Jean Carroll began writing her advice column titled Ask E. Jean for Elle magazine, a role that would last for over two decades.

1993: Publication of Hunter: The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson

In 1993, E. Jean Carroll's biographical work, Hunter: The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson, was published by Dutton.

Hunter: The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson

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1994: Launch of Ask E. Jean

In 1994, E. Jean Carroll began her role as the host and producer of the television series Ask E. Jean, which was broadcast on the NBC network America's Talking.

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1995: CableACE Award Nomination

During 1995, E. Jean Carroll and her television program Ask E. Jean received a nomination for a CableACE Award.

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1996: Conclusion of Ask E. Jean

The production and broadcasting of the Ask E. Jean television series, hosted by E. Jean Carroll on America's Talking, concluded in 1996.

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1998: Inclusion in Non-Fiction Anthologies

In 1998, E. Jean Carroll's work was featured in two prominent non-fiction anthologies, specifically 'The Best of Outside: The First 20 Years' and 'Out of the Noosphere: Adventure, Sports, Travel, and the Environment'.

1999: Bill Tonelli's Assessment of E. Jean Carroll's Journalism

In a 1999 interview, Bill Tonelli, who served as an editor for E. Jean Carroll at Esquire and Rolling Stone, characterized her writing style by noting that her stories consistently centered on her personal interactions with subjects, describing her as being fundamentally incapable of producing uninteresting work.

2002: Recognition for The Cheerleaders

In 2002, Carroll's story 'The Cheerleaders,' originally published in Spin, was recognized as one of the year's best pieces of true crime reporting and included in the anthology 'Best American Crime Writing' published by Pantheon Books.

2002: Founding of greatboyfriends.com

In 2002, E. Jean Carroll and her sister, Cande Carroll, established the website greatboyfriends.com, a platform where women could provide recommendations for single men to one another.

2003: Publication in Sand in My Bra

In 2003, E. Jean Carroll's writing was included in the anthology 'Sand in My Bra: Funny Women Write from the Road', published by Traveler's Tales.

2004: Launch of Catch27.com

In 2004, Carroll introduced Catch27.com, a satirical take on Facebook that allowed users to feature their profiles on trading cards and engage in the buying, selling, or trading of one another.

2005: Acquisition of GreatBoyfriends

The online platform GreatBoyfriends was purchased by the company The Knot Inc. in 2005.

2007: Launch of askejean.com

Carroll expanded her media reach in 2007 by launching an online version of her advice column, known as askejean.com.

2012: Co-founding of Tawkify

In 2012, Carroll co-founded the dating service Tawkify, which functioned as a personal concierge for dating, and she additionally provided advisory support to the company's matchmaking team.

June 2019: Release of What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal

In June 2019, E. Jean Carroll released her memoir titled What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal, which draws its title from the 1729 satire by Jonathan Swift.

What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal

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2019: E. Jean Carroll Accuses Les Moonves of Sexual Assault

In 2019, E. Jean Carroll became one of thirteen women to publicly accuse former CBS Corporation CEO Les Moonves of sexual assault. Carroll stated that the incident took place in a hotel elevator during the late 1990s following an interview she conducted with Moonves for a story, an allegation that Moonves has denied.

2019: Initiation of First Civil Lawsuit

In 2019, E. Jean Carroll filed the first of two related civil lawsuits against Donald Trump, which eventually contributed to a total of $88.3 million in damages awarded to her.

2019: Release of What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal

In 2019, E. Jean Carroll published her book titled What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal, in which she publicly accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her during the mid-1990s.

What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal

Check it on Amazon

2019: Conclusion of Ask E. Jean Column

The long-running advice column Ask E. Jean, written by E. Jean Carroll for Elle magazine, concluded its publication in 2019 after being a staple since 1993.

February 2020: Termination from Elle Magazine

In February 2020, E. Jean Carroll was fired from her position at Elle magazine. Carroll publicly alleged via Twitter that her dismissal was a direct result of Donald Trump's public ridicule and attacks on her reputation, whereas the publication asserted that her termination was strictly a business decision.

2020: Conclusion of Ask E. Jean column

After a successful 27-year run, E. Jean Carroll's "Ask E. Jean" advice column in Elle magazine concluded in 2020.

2020: Profiling Trump Accusers for The Atlantic

Throughout 2020, E. Jean Carroll authored a series of articles for The Atlantic that provided profiles on several of the 25 women who have accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct.

January 2021: Vanity Fair Profile of Jill Harth

In January 2021, E. Jean Carroll published a profile in Vanity Fair regarding Jill Harth, a woman who alleged that she had been groped by Donald Trump.

October 2021: This American Life Feature

In October 2021, the radio program This American Life featured E. Jean Carroll in a recorded conversation with Jessica Leeds, another woman who has accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct.

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2022: Initiation of Second Civil Lawsuit

In 2022, E. Jean Carroll filed a second civil lawsuit against Donald Trump, forming part of the legal actions that resulted in a total of $88.3 million in damages awarded to her.

April 2023: Residence in Upstate New York

As of April 2023, E. Jean Carroll was documented to be residing in upstate New York.

May 9, 2023: Jury Verdict in Carroll v. Trump

On May 9, 2023, a jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York found Donald Trump liable for both defamation and sexual abuse against E. Jean Carroll, awarding her $5 million in damages.

July 19, 2023: Clarification on Rape Finding

On July 19, 2023, Judge Kaplan issued a ruling stating that the term rape was applicable to Trump's actions toward Carroll according to common modern parlance, despite the specific technical definitions found in the New York Penal Law.

2023: Defamation lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani

In 2023, two election workers were awarded $75 million in a defamation lawsuit filed against Rudy Giuliani, a case which the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals referenced in 2025 while upholding an $83 million defamation award against Donald Trump.

January 26, 2024: Defamation Damages Verdict

On January 26, 2024, a jury determined that Donald Trump was liable for defamation regarding comments made following the initial trial, resulting in an additional judgment of $83.3 million in damages for E. Jean Carroll.

June 2025: Publication of Not My Type

In June 2025, E. Jean Carroll published her memoir Not My Type, which covers the five-year period following her initial lawsuit against Donald Trump and debuted at number two on the New York Times best-seller list.

June 28, 2025: Debut of Not My Type on the New York Times Best-Seller List

On June 28, 2025, E. Jean Carroll's book, Not My Type: One Woman Against a President, achieved success by debuting at the #2 position on the New York Times best-seller list.

June 30, 2025: Interview with Pamela Brown on CNN

On June 30, 2025, E. Jean Carroll appeared in an interview with Pamela Brown on CNN, where she expressed that her primary motivation was public awareness of the truth rather than the monetary damages she was awarded, stating she intended to give the money away.

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September 8, 2025: Appeals Court Ruling

On September 8, 2025, an appeals court panel issued a per curiam ruling that officially upheld the prior verdict and the monetary damages awarded to E. Jean Carroll.

May 27, 2026: DOJ Launches Criminal Investigation into E. Jean Carroll

On May 27, 2026, the Department of Justice initiated a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll to determine if she committed perjury regarding the source of funding for her legal proceedings. In response to the investigation, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recused himself from the case.

June 2026: Supreme Court Refusal to Hear Appeal

In June 2026, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Donald Trump regarding the dismissal of the first lawsuit, thereby allowing the $5 million verdict in favor of Carroll to remain in place.

June 29, 2026: Supreme Court denies Trump's appeal in Carroll case

On June 29, 2026, the United States Supreme Court denied President Trump's appeal to dismiss E. Jean Carroll's first civil lawsuit, effectively upholding the $5 million judgment against him regarding liability for sexual assault.