Indictments against Donald Trump
Date | March 25 – August 14, 2023 |
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Location | |
Arrests |
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In 2023, four criminal indictments were filed against Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th president of the United States. Two indictments are on state charges (one in New York and one in Georgia) and two indictments (as well as one superseding indictment) are on federal charges (one in Florida and one in the District of Columbia).[1]
The District of Columbia trial was put on hold in February 2024 while waiting for the Supreme Court to determine whether Trump is immune from prosecution. The case was returned to the District Court on August 2 to conduct hearings consistent with the Supreme Court's ruling. The 6-week-long New York trial began on April 15, 2024 with Trump convicted in all 34 charges and sentencing scheduled for November 26.[2] On June 5, 2024, the Georgia trial was paused while the Georgia Court of Appeals decided whether to disqualify Fani Willis.[3][4] It disqualified Willis on December 19.[5] The following month, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the Florida case, ruling Jack Smith's appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional.[6] The Office of the Special Counsel appealed the dismissal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals two days later.[7] Eleventh Circuit sent notice, officially receiving the request and requested briefing schedule of late August.[8][9] The Special Counsel office has not requested an expedited briefing schedule.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.[10][11][12][13] Neither the indictments nor any resulting convictions would have disqualified his 2024 presidential candidacy.[14][15] The Supreme Court separately addressed Trump's eligibility to be on the ballot and reversed all disqualifications by individual states. On July 1, 2024, the Court ruled 6–3, that Trump had immunity for acts he committed as president that were considered official acts, while also ruling that he did not have immunity for unofficial acts.[16] On November 6, Trump won the 2024 election and as president-elect; after inauguration, Justice Department policy would preclude his prosecution and Trump has previously stated he will fire Smith.[17][18]
Summary
[edit]Subject matter | Court | Indictment[19] | No. of charges | Judge | Prosecutor | Trump legal team | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falsifying business records | New York Supreme Court | March 30, 2023 | 34 | Juan Merchan | Alvin Bragg | Todd Blanche Emil Bove Susan Necheles |
Sentenced with unconditional discharge on January 10, 2025[20] |
Mishandling of national security documents | District Court for the Southern District of Florida | June 8, 2023 | 40 | Aileen Cannon | Jack Smith | Todd Blanche Lindsey Halligan Chris Kise |
Dismissed July 15, 2024[a] |
Attempting to overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election | District Court for the District of Columbia | August 1, 2023 | 4 | Tanya S. Chutkan | Jack Smith | Todd Blanche John Lauro |
Dismissed November 25, 2024[22] |
Racketeering to overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election in Georgia | Fulton County Superior Court | August 14, 2023 | 8[b] | Scott McAfee | Fani Willis (disqualified) | Todd Blanche Jennifer Little Steven Sadow |
TBA |
March 2023 indictment in New York
[edit]Trump was indicted on state charges in a March 2023 indictment in New York. He faced 34 criminal charges of falsifying business records in the first degree related to payments made to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.[19][23] The trial began on April 15, 2024; Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts on May 30, 2024.[24] Sentencing was scheduled for September 18,[25] but was delayed until November 26, 2024.[2] On January 10, 2025, Trump received an unconditional discharge of his sentence.[20]
June 2023 federal indictment in Florida
[edit]Trump was indicted in June 2023 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida in a federal indictment related to classified government documents. Trump faced 40 criminal charges alleging mishandling of sensitive documents and conspiracy to obstruct the government in retrieving these documents.[23][26] The trial was scheduled for May 20, 2024,[27] before being postponed indefinitely on May 7, 2024.[28] On July 15, 2024, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case, ruling Jack Smith's appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional.[6] The Office of the Special Counsel appealed the dismissal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, but it later chose to wind down the case following Trump's election in November 2024, in part due to its long-standing department policy not to prosecute a sitting president.[29] It abandoned its appeal regarding Trump (which the court dismissed on November 25)[30][31] and regarding Nauta and de Oliveira (dismissed on January 29, 2025).[32]
August 2023 federal indictment in Washington, D.C.
[edit]Trump was indicted in August 2023 in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in a federal indictment related to attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Trump faces four criminal charges of conspiring to defraud the government and disenfranchise voters, and corruptly obstructing an official proceeding.[23] This case includes Trump's involvement in the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack. On February 6, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Trump does not have presidential immunity from prosecution.[33] In an appeal on July 1, 2024, the United States Supreme Court ruled 6–3, along ideological lines, that Trump had immunity for acts he committed as president that were considered official acts, while also ruling that he did not have immunity for unofficial acts. The case was returned to Judge Tanya Chutkan on August 2 in accordance with Supreme Court rules.[34] On November 25, 2024, Judge Tanya Chutkan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed the case without prejudice.[22]
August 2023 indictment in Georgia
[edit]Trump was indicted on state charges in an August 2023 indictment in Georgia. Trump faces 8 criminal charges related to alleged attempts to overturn Joe Biden's victory in Georgia, alongside 18 accused co-conspirators.[19][35][36] Trump initially faced 13 criminal charges, 5 of which were dismissed.[35][37] On December 19, 2024, the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified Willis from prosecuting the case.[5] The case had been paused while the court decided this issue.[38] As the court did not dismiss the case, another prosecutor could take Willis's role; however, it will have to be determined whether a state-level prosecutor can prosecute a sitting president (as Trump has been from January 20, 2025, onward) and whether a state-level judge will hear the case.[39]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Smith sought to remove Trump as a co-defendant on November 25, 2024. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals granted Smith's motion to remove Trump as a co-defendant on November 26, 2024.[21]
- ^ There were originally 13; 5 were dismissed.
References
[edit]- ^ O'Kruk, Amy; Merrill, Curt (December 11, 2023) [July 2023]. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Grenoble, Ryan (September 6, 2024). Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ Cohen, Zachary; Murray, Sara (June 5, 2024). Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Carrie (July 15, 2024). "Judge Dismisses Trump Documents Case over Special Counsel Appointment". NPR. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ "United States District Court Southern District of Florida West Palm Beach Division" (PDF). July 17, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ "United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit" (PDF). courtlistener.com. July 18, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ Bromwich, Jonah E.; Rashbaum, William K.; Protess, Ben; Haberman, Maggie (April 4, 2023). Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ Sneed, Tierney (August 5, 2023). Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ Kunzelman, Michael; Tucker, Eric; Merchant, Nomaan (August 3, 2023). "Trump Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Felonies Related to the 2020 Election". PBS NewsHour. Associated Press. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ Rabinowitz, Hannah (August 31, 2023). Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ Stein, Perry (March 30, 2023). Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ Giavanni Alves (March 31, 2023). Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ Halpert, Madeline (November 6, 2024). "Trump has won the election. What happens to his legal cases?". BBC News. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Cole, Devan; del Valle, Lauren; Scannell, Kara; Herb, Jeremy; Reid, Paula (November 6, 2024). Archived from the original on November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c O'Kruk, Amy; Merrill, Curt (April 16, 2024). "Tracking Donald Trump's Indictments". CNN. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Protess, Ben; Bromwich, Jonah E. (January 10, 2025). 0362-4331. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
- ^ Charalambous, Peter; Faulders, Katherine (November 26, 2024). Archived from the original on November 27, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ^ a b NPR Washington Desk (November 25, 2024). "Judge grants dismissal of Jan. 6 case against Trump". NPR. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c Savage, Charlie (August 15, 2023). Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ Ball, Molly (April 20, 2024). "Trump's Trial and Campaign Collide as Historic Prosecution Begins". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Kates, Graham (July 3, 2024). Archived from the original on July 7, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ Kinnard, Meg; Richer, Alanna Durkin (July 28, 2023). Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ Tucker, Eric (July 21, 2023). Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ Cheney, Kyle (May 7, 2024). Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ Dilanian, Ken; Jarrett, Laura (November 6, 2024). "DOJ moving to wind down Trump criminal cases before he takes office". NBC News. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ Reid, Paula; Sneed, Tierney; Cole, Devan (November 25, 2024). "Special counsel Jack Smith drops election subversion and classified documents cases against Donald Trump". CNN. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ "US court dismisses appeal in Trump documents case". US News. Reuters. November 26, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
- ^ Tucker, Eric (January 29, 2025). "DOJ Abandons Criminal Proceedings Against 2 Trump Co-Defendants In Classified Records Case". HuffPost. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ Cabral, Sam (February 6, 2024). Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ Archived from the original on July 4, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Sneed, Tierney; Morris, Jason; Valencia, Nick (March 13, 2024). "Judge Dismisses Some Trump Georgia Election Subversion Charges but Leaves Most of the Case Intact". CNN. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ Sullivan, Andy; Ax, Joseph; Lynch, Sarah N.; Sullivan, Andy; Lynch, Sarah N. (August 15, 2023). Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ Gerstein, Josh (September 12, 2024). Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ Cohen, Zachary; Murray, Sara (June 5, 2024). Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ Cole, Devan; del Valle, Lauren; Scannell, Kara; Herb, Jeremy (November 6, 2024). Archived from the original on November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
Further reading
[edit]- Murray, Melissa; Weissmann, Andrew, eds. (2024). The Trump Indictments The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary. New York: W.W. Norton. ISBN 978-1-324-07920-0.
External links
[edit]- Donald Trump litigation
- 2022 in United States case law
- 2023 in United States case law
- 2024 in United States case law
- Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election
- Classified documents
- Controversies of the 2024 United States presidential election
- Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign
- Donald Trump controversies
- Donald Trump prosecutions
- Indictments
- January 6 United States Capitol attack
- United States presidential history