Ethics Complaint Targets E. Jean Carroll’s Lawyer Over Reid Hoffman Funding

A legal ethics complaint has been filed against Roberta Kaplan, attorney for E. Jean Carroll, over her handling of outside funding from billionaire Reid Hoffman in Carroll’s high-profile lawsuits against former President Donald Trump. The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) submitted the complaint to the Attorney Grievance Committee of the New York State Supreme Court, alleging Kaplan failed to promptly disclose Hoffman’s financial support and did not correct false testimony by Carroll until months later.

The case highlights growing scrutiny over third-party funding in politically charged litigation, raising questions about transparency and ethical obligations for attorneys involved in such cases.

Carroll, a former magazine columnist, accused Trump of sexual assault in the 1990s and later sued him for defamation. She was awarded $83.3 million in one jury verdict and $5 million in another, with Trump’s appeal of the larger judgment still pending. Tax records show Hoffman’s nonprofit, American Future Republic, paid $7 million to Carroll’s legal team to cover expenses, according to the Capital Research Center and corroborated by Influence Watch.

Allegations Against Kaplan

The NLPC’s complaint centers on an October 2022 deposition in which Carroll, under oath, denied that anyone else was paying her legal fees. The complaint alleges Kaplan knew this answer was false but waited nearly six months—until just before trial—to inform Trump’s lawyers and the court that Hoffman had funded the lawsuits. The complaint further questions whether Kaplan charged Carroll both a contingency fee and additional hourly fees paid by Hoffman’s nonprofit, potentially resulting in an excessive fee under New York ethics rules.

"Not surprising that Roberta Kaplan did not deny any of these allegations of ethical misconduct in our complaint. Instead, she cites the Second Circuit that only dealt with E. Jean Carroll’s contact with Reid Hoffman, not Kaplan’s."

— Paul Kamenar, counsel for the National Legal and Policy Center

A spokesperson for Kaplan’s law firm did not comment on the complaint but noted that Trump had already litigated the issue of Hoffman’s funding at the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, which rejected the claim about lack of disclosure.

Court and Watchdog Responses

The 2nd Circuit found no evidence Carroll was personally involved in securing the funding or had discussed the arrangement before her deposition. The court concluded that Carroll’s prior statement about litigation funding was not sufficiently probative of her credibility and that she was not involved in decisions about who funded her legal costs. However, the NLPC argues the court did not address Kaplan’s ethical duties as an attorney.

Paul Kamenar, counsel for the NLPC, said courts have historically expected disclosure of outside funding to ensure attorneys, not funders, direct litigation. The NLPC’s 15-page complaint also raises the issue of whether the total fees charged to Carroll, including third-party payments, were excessive.

Hoffman’s Role and Ongoing Investigations

Reid Hoffman, a major Democratic donor and LinkedIn co-founder, has acknowledged funding Carroll’s legal efforts through American Future Republic. The nonprofit’s 2024 tax filing lists $7.8 million in assets and $286,735 in revenue for that year. Hoffman told the Washington Post in 2023 that he did not try to keep his support secret, stating, “My team looked at it, thought that her [Carroll’s] voice should be heard because she was challenging someone who was so much more wealthy and powerful—it shouldn’t be squashed.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago reportedly launched a probe into American Future Republic’s donations related to the Carroll case, according to CBS News and other outlets. However, the office later stated it had not opened or conducted such an investigation. A spokesperson for Hoffman did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily Signal, nor did representatives from his investment firm Greylock.

Broader Context and What’s Next

American Future Republic, founded by Hoffman in 2019, has funded a range of left-leaning advocacy efforts and has faced criticism for its involvement in political campaigns and media projects. The group’s financial backing of Carroll’s lawsuits has drawn attention from both conservative and liberal watchdogs, reflecting broader debates over the influence of wealthy donors in high-profile litigation. Trump’s appeal of the $83.3 million judgment remains pending, while the 2nd Circuit recently denied his effort to pause the $5 million payment to Carroll.

The Attorney Grievance Committee has not publicly commented on the NLPC’s complaint against Kaplan.