From classified documents case to Georgia election interference: A look at Trump's ongoing legal troubles
Legal woes that continue to trouble Trump: From classified documents case to NY civil fraud
On May 30, 2024, Donald Trump became the first former US president to be convicted in a criminal case after a Manhattan jury found him guilty on all 34 counts in the New York hush money case. The historical criminal case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg originated from the findings that the 45th president falsified his business records to cover up a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to prevent her from publicizing their alleged sexual encounter. However, Trump's legal woes do not end here. As the Republican presumptive nominee awaits the crucial verdict on July 11, here is a look at the other major criminal and civil cases tormenting the billionaire.
1. Illegally retaining classified documents at Mar-a-Lago
A federal grand jury in June 2023 indicted Trump with 40 felony counts for illegally withholding classified documents at his private residence in Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, after the end of his presidency in January 2022. Special counsel Jack Smith leads the investigation against the former president for retaining the classified materials, blocking the FBI from recovering those, and over his attempts to cover it up. The FBI raided Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 and retrieved boxes of sensitive documents linked to national security. Prosecutors also argue that Trump showed off some materials, including a classified map and a Pentagon "plan of attack." If convicted, he could be imprisoned for 450 years. However, US District Court Judge Aileen Cannon recently postponed the trial indefinitely.
2. Washington DC election subversion case on January 6 Capitol riot
Trump faces another indictment over his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in his favor, which include instigating his supporters to attack the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, violently. Washington, DC, federal court in August 2023 charged him with four felony counts. According to the indictment, Trump, who is labeled a co-conspirator, "attempted to exploit the violence and chaos at the Capitol by calling lawmakers to convince them ... to delay the certification" of Joe Biden's 2020 victory. Special counsel Smith is investigating the charges that include conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding, obstruction of, and attempt to obstruct, an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights, as per the New York Post. The ex-POTUS could face up to 55 years imprisonment if convicted on all four charges.
3. Georgia election interference case
The MAGA spearhead was hit with another indictment for allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Trump faces ten felony charges in Fulton County, Georgia, after an Atlanta grand jury indicted the White House hopeful and 18 other co-defendants in August 2023. Fulton County DA Fanin Willis brought the fourth criminal case against Trump. The criminal case was triggered by a notorious phone call made on January 2, 2021, by the then-president to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, urging him to "find 11,780" votes to reverse his defeat to Biden. Trump is charged with violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy, false document filing, and urging public officials to break their oath of office. Trump could face 76.5 years in prison if convicted.
4. Appealing New York civil fraud verdict
Trump was also the defendant in a prominent civil case in New York for fraudulently inflating the price of his properties for decades to secure tax benefits and favorable bank loans. In February, a NY judge hit Trump with a whopping $454 million penalty in the case brought by state Attorney General Letitia James. However, Trump filed an appeal to the verdict by Judge Arthur Engoron by posting a $175 million bond. Trump has denied all charges against him.
5. Appealing E Jean Carroll's defamation ruling
In late January, a Manhattan jury ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million to writer E Jean Carroll in a defamation lawsuit. Previously, in May 2023, the former president was hit with another $5 million after a jury found him liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the 1990s. The former Elle magazine columnist won $83.3 million in her lawsuit against Trump for defaming her by denying the sexual assault claims. The real estate mogul appealed both verdicts and denied all accusations.
