The Cases Against Donald Trump

The Case(s) Against Donald Trump It’s hard to keep track, so we made a guide. By Nia Prater, Intelligencer staff writer, who covers New York politics The Case(s) Against Donald Trump It’s hard to keep track, so we made a guide.By Nia Prater, Intelligencer staff writer, who covers New York politicsPhoto-Illustration: by Intelligencer; Photos Getty imagesDonald Trump’s legal troubles extend far beyond New York’s city limits. In Georgia, he is being investigated for his attempts to overturn the state’s 2020 election results while he was president. In Washington, D.C., a Justice Department special counsel is running a fast-moving probe into both his handling of classified documents and his conduct around the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Then there are the civil case against him by E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault and defamation, and Attorney General Letitia James’s fraud case against Trump and three of his children. It can be a lot to follow, so here’s what’s on deck.Stormy Daniels Hush MoneyCase type: CriminalWhere: New York CountyProsecutor: Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorneyWhen: Trump was arrested and charged on April 4, the next hearing is currently set for December 4On March 30, a grand jury officially voted to indict Trump, making him the first former president to face criminal charges. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, had paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to prevent her from sharing her story about an alleged past affair with Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. Cohen has maintained that his former boss directed him to make the payoff, reimbursed him in a series of payments for the cost, and cooked the Trump Organization’s books to cover it up. On April 4, Trump surrendered in Manhattan and was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree over how the payments to Cohen were recorded by the Trump Organization. You can read Ankush Khardori’s analysis of the charges and their legal chances here. Judge Merchan has set rules barring Trump from using evidence in the case and required the former president to attend a May 23 hearing via video conference to learn about the restrictions.Election Tampering in GeorgiaCase type: CriminalWhere: Fulton County, GeorgiaProsecutor: Fani Willis, Fulton County district attorneyWhen: This summerIn 2021, Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis began her inquiry into the Trump campaign’s attempts to overturn Joe Biden’s victory the year before. The probe centers around the infamous phone call Trump made to Georgia’s secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, asking him to “find” additional votes during a recount in order for Trump to be declared the winner. A grand jury wrapped up its investigation last month and submitted to Willis its final report, which includes recommendations for indictments. The names are not public, but interview-friendly forewoman Emily Kohrs seemed to hint that Trump would be included. Willis is reportedly considering racketeering charges. On April 24, she revealed to local members of law enforcement that she would announce possible criminal indictments in the case sometime between July 11 and September 1 — in order to give them time to address any security concerns. The Atlantic Journal-Constitution reports that the announcement is “one of the strongest signals yet that she’s on the verge of trying to obtain an indictment against Trump and his supporters,” according to legal observers.Classified Documents at Mar-a-LagoCase type: CriminalWhere: U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaProsecutor: Jack Smith, DOJ special counselWhen: UnclearIn August, the FBI executed a search warrant for Trump’s personal residence at Mar-a-Lago based on the suspicion that the former president hadn’t fully complied with a federal subpoena asking him to turn over classified documents from his presidency. What agents found were hundreds of documents — including some marked “Top Secret” or “Classified.” Trump is not only under investigation for improperly storing these documents but for obstructing the government’s investigation. Weeks after the search, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed as special counsel a veteran prosecutor named Jack Smith, who has a history of prosecuting war criminals at the Hague. Prosecutors reportedly believe they have evidence that shows Trump impeded the government’s attempts to recover the documents, and a top Trump lawyer was compelled to testify before a grand jury in March.January 6 and the 2020 Election AftermathCase type: CriminalWhere: U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaProsecutor: Jack Smith, DOJ special counselWhen: UnclearIn perhaps the biggest case against Trump, the Justice Department has been investigating a variety of plots that intersected with him in relation to the lead-up to the attack on the U.S. Capitol. One such plot was the scheme to send fake electors from the states to Congress on January 6 in order to declare Trump the phony winner of the election. DOJ special counsel Jack Smith’s office has issued subpoenas to election officials in key states such as Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Another plot involves how Trump and his inner circle sought to pressure his vice-president, Mike Pence, to stop Congress from certifying Biden’s victory that day. There is also the question of how exactly Trump fit into the violence that unfolded at the Capitol after he’d urged his supporters to march there during his speech at the Ellipse. In late March, Smith’s office scored a huge victory in court when a judge ruled that several members of the Trump administration, including former chief of staff Mark Meadows, must comply with subpoenas for grand-jury testimony. Pence must testify to a grand jury in the inquiry, per a judge’s ruling, but Trump is seeking an appeal to the decision.E. Jean CarrollCase type: CivilWhere: New York Supreme CourtAttorney: Roberta KaplanVerdict: Trump found liable for battery and defamationIn a 2019 New York cover story, writer E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s. After Trump accused her of lying, Carroll, represented by Roberta Kaplan, sued him for defamation. Then she sued for damages over the alleged assault, taking advantage of a recent New York law that extends the statute of limitations for adult survivors of sexual abuse. The trial began on April 25. After a short deliberation, a jury ruled on May 9 that Trump was liable for sexual assault and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages. Trump’s legal team is expected to appeal.Business Fraud in New YorkCase type: CivilWhere: New York CountyProsecutor: Letitia James, New York attorney generalWhen: October 2In September, New York attorney general Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Trump alleging that the famed businessman had committed fraud by misrepresenting his net worth and the valuations of several of his properties as a means to deceive banks and lenders. The suit named three of Trump’s adult children — Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric — as well as the Trump Organization. James is seeking $250 million and to permanently bar the Trumps from operating a business in New York State.The former president sat for a second deposition in the case earlier in April and was questioned for hours in James’s Manhattan office. (In his previous deposition last year, Trump reportedly invoked the Fifth Amendment hundreds of times.) The case is expected to go to trial in October after a judge recently rejected an attempt by Trump’s legal team to delay the proceedings by six months. The Case(s) Against Donald Trump It’s hard to keep track, so we made a guide.By Nia Prater, Intelligencer staff writer, who covers New York politicsPhoto-Illustration: by Intelligencer; Photos Getty imagesDonald Trump’s legal troubles extend far beyond New York’s city limits. In Georgia, he is being investigated for his attempts to overturn the state’s 2020 election results while he was president. In Washington, D.C., a Justice Department special counsel is running a fast-moving probe into both his handling of classified documents and his conduct around the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Then there are the civil case against him by E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault and defamation, and Attorney General Letitia James’s fraud case against Trump and three of his children. It can be a lot to follow, so here’s what’s on deck.Stormy Daniels Hush MoneyCase type: CriminalWhere: New York CountyProsecutor: Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorneyWhen: Trump was arrested and charged on April 4, the next hearing is currently set for December 4On March 30, a grand jury officially voted to indict Trump, making him the first former president to face criminal charges. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, had paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to prevent her from sharing her story about an alleged past affair with Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. Cohen has maintained that his former boss directed him to make the payoff, reimbursed him in a series of payments for the cost, and cooked the Trump Organization’s books to cover it up. On April 4, Trump surrendered in Manhattan and was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree over how the payments to Cohen were recorded by the Trump Organization. You can read Ankush Khardori’s analysis of the charges and their legal chances here. Judge Merchan has set rules barring Trump from using evidence in the case and required the former president to attend a May 23 hearing via video conference to learn about the restrictions.Election Tampering in GeorgiaCase type: CriminalWhere: Fulton County, GeorgiaProsecutor: Fani Willis, Fulton County district attorneyWhen: This summerIn 2021, Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis began her inquiry into the Trump campaign’s attempts to overturn Joe Biden’s victory the year before. The probe centers around the infamous phone call Trump made to Georgia’s secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, asking him to “find” additional votes during a recount in order for Trump to be declared the winner. A grand jury wrapped up its investigation last month and submitted to Willis its final report, which includes recommendations for indictments. The names are not public, but interview-friendly forewoman Emily Kohrs seemed to hint that Trump would be included. Willis is reportedly considering racketeering charges. On April 24, she revealed to local members of law enforcement that she would announce possible criminal indictments in the case sometime between July 11 and September 1 — in order to give them time to address any security concerns. The Atlantic Journal-Constitution reports that the announcement is “one of the strongest signals yet that she’s on the verge of trying to obtain an indictment against Trump and his supporters,” according to legal observers.Classified Documents at Mar-a-LagoCase type: CriminalWhere: U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaProsecutor: Jack Smith, DOJ special counselWhen: UnclearIn August, the FBI executed a search warrant for Trump’s personal residence at Mar-a-Lago based on the suspicion that the former president hadn’t fully complied with a federal subpoena asking him to turn over classified documents from his presidency. What agents found were hundreds of documents — including some marked “Top Secret” or “Classified.” Trump is not only under investigation for improperly storing these documents but for obstructing the government’s investigation. Weeks after the search, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed as special counsel a veteran prosecutor named Jack Smith, who has a history of prosecuting war criminals at the Hague. Prosecutors reportedly believe they have evidence that shows Trump impeded the government’s attempts to recover the documents, and a top Trump lawyer was compelled to testify before a grand jury in March.January 6 and the 2020 Election AftermathCase type: CriminalWhere: U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaProsecutor: Jack Smith, DOJ special counselWhen: UnclearIn perhaps the biggest case against Trump, the Justice Department has been investigating a variety of plots that intersected with him in relation to the lead-up to the attack on the U.S. Capitol. One such plot was the scheme to send fake electors from the states to Congress on January 6 in order to declare Trump the phony winner of the election. DOJ special counsel Jack Smith’s office has issued subpoenas to election officials in key states such as Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Another plot involves how Trump and his inner circle sought to pressure his vice-president, Mike Pence, to stop Congress from certifying Biden’s victory that day. There is also the question of how exactly Trump fit into the violence that unfolded at the Capitol after he’d urged his supporters to march there during his speech at the Ellipse. In late March, Smith’s office scored a huge victory in court when a judge ruled that several members of the Trump administration, including former chief of staff Mark Meadows, must comply with subpoenas for grand-jury testimony. Pence must testify to a grand jury in the inquiry, per a judge’s ruling, but Trump is seeking an appeal to the decision.E. Jean CarrollCase type: CivilWhere: New York Supreme CourtAttorney: Roberta KaplanVerdict: Trump found liable for battery and defamationIn a 2019 New York cover story, writer E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s. After Trump accused her of lying, Carroll, represented by Roberta Kaplan, sued him for defamation. Then she sued for damages over the alleged assault, taking advantage of a recent New York law that extends the statute of limitations for adult survivors of sexual abuse. The trial began on April 25. After a short deliberation, a jury ruled on May 9 that Trump was liable for sexual assault and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages. Trump’s legal team is expected to appeal.Business Fraud in New YorkCase type: CivilWhere: New York CountyProsecutor: Letitia James, New York attorney generalWhen: October 2In September, New York attorney general Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Trump alleging that the famed businessman had committed fraud by misrepresenting his net worth and the valuations of several of his properties as a means to deceive banks and lenders. The suit named three of Trump’s adult children — Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric — as well as the Trump Organization. James is seeking $250 million and to permanently bar the Trumps from operating a business in New York State.The former president sat for a second deposition in the case earlier in April and was questioned for hours in James’s Manhattan office. (In his previous deposition last year, Trump reportedly invoked the Fifth Amendment hundreds of times.) The case is expected to go to trial in October after a judge recently rejected an attempt by Trump’s legal team to delay the proceedings by six months. Photo-Illustration: by Intelligencer; Photos Getty images Donald Trump’s legal troubles extend far beyond New York’s city limits. In Georgia, he is being investigated for his attempts to overturn the state’s 2020 election results while he was president. In Washington, D.C., a Justice Department special counsel is running a fast-moving probe into both his handling of classified documents and his conduct around the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Then there are the civil case against him by E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault and defamation, and Attorney General Letitia James’s fraud case against Trump and three of his children. It can be a lot to follow, so here’s what’s on deck. Stormy Daniels Hush Money Case type: Criminal Where: New York County Prosecutor: Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney When: Trump was arrested and charged on April 4, the next hearing is currently set for December 4 On March 30, a grand jury officially voted to indict Trump, making him the first former president to face criminal charges. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, had paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to prevent her from sharing her story about an alleged past affair with Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. Cohen has maintained that his former boss directed him to make the payoff, reimbursed him in a series of payments for the cost, and cooked the Trump Organization’s books to cover it up. On April 4, Trump surrendered in Manhattan and was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree over how the payments to Cohen were recorded by the Trump Organization. You can read Ankush Khardori’s analysis of the charges and their legal chances here. Judge Merchan has set rules barring Trump from using evidence in the case and required the former president to attend a May 23 hearing via video conference to learn about the restrictions. Election Tampering in Georgia Case type: Criminal Where: Fulton County, Georgia Prosecutor: Fani Willis, Fulton County district attorney When: This summer In 2021, Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis began her inquiry into the Trump campaign’s attempts to overturn Joe Biden’s victory the year before. The probe centers around the infamous phone call Trump made to Georgia’s secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, asking him to “find” additional votes during a recount in order for Trump to be declared the winner. A grand jury wrapped up its investigation last month and submitted to Willis its final report, which includes recommendations for indictments. The names are not public, but interview-friendly forewoman Emily Kohrs seemed to hint that Trump would be included. Willis is reportedly considering racketeering charges. On April 24, she revealed to local members of law enforcement that she would announce possible criminal indictments in the case sometime between July 11 and September 1 — in order to give them time to address any security concerns. The Atlantic Journal-Constitution reports that the announcement is “one of the strongest signals yet that she’s on the verge of trying to obtain an indictment against Trump and his supporters,” according to legal observers. Classified Documents at Mar-a-Lago Case type: Criminal Where: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Prosecutor: Jack Smith, DOJ special counsel When: Unclear In August, the FBI executed a search warrant for Trump’s personal residence at Mar-a-Lago based on the suspicion that the former president hadn’t fully complied with a federal subpoena asking him to turn over classified documents from his presidency. What agents found were hundreds of documents — including some marked “Top Secret” or “Classified.” Trump is not only under investigation for improperly storing these documents but for obstructing the government’s investigation. Weeks after the search, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed as special counsel a veteran prosecutor named Jack Smith, who has a history of prosecuting war criminals at the Hague. Prosecutors reportedly believe they have evidence that shows Trump impeded the government’s attempts to recover the documents, and a top Trump lawyer was compelled to testify before a grand jury in March. January 6 and the 2020 Election Aftermath Case type: Criminal Where: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Prosecutor: Jack Smith, DOJ special counsel When: Unclear In perhaps the biggest case against Trump, the Justice Department has been investigating a variety of plots that intersected with him in relation to the lead-up to the attack on the U.S. Capitol. One such plot was the scheme to send fake electors from the states to Congress on January 6 in order to declare Trump the phony winner of the election. DOJ special counsel Jack Smith’s office has issued subpoenas to election officials in key states such as Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Another plot involves how Trump and his inner circle sought to pressure his vice-president, Mike Pence, to stop Congress from certifying Biden’s victory that day. There is also the question of how exactly Trump fit into the violence that unfolded at the Capitol after he’d urged his supporters to march there during his speech at the Ellipse. In late March, Smith’s office scored a huge victory in court when a judge ruled that several members of the Trump administration, including former chief of staff Mark Meadows, must comply with subpoenas for grand-jury testimony. Pence must testify to a grand jury in the inquiry, per a judge’s ruling, but Trump is seeking an appeal to the decision. E. Jean Carroll Case type: Civil Where: New York Supreme Court Attorney: Roberta Kaplan Verdict: Trump found liable for battery and defamation In a 2019 New York cover story, writer E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s. After Trump accused her of lying, Carroll, represented by Roberta Kaplan, sued him for defamation. Then she sued for damages over the alleged assault, taking advantage of a recent New York law that extends the statute of limitations for adult survivors of sexual abuse. The trial began on April 25. After a short deliberation, a jury ruled on May 9 that Trump was liable for sexual assault and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages. Trump’s legal team is expected to appeal. Business Fraud in New York Case type: Civil Where: New York County Prosecutor: Letitia James, New York attorney general When: October 2 In September, New York attorney general Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Trump alleging that the famed businessman had committed fraud by misrepresenting his net worth and the valuations of several of his properties as a means to deceive banks and lenders. The suit named three of Trump’s adult children — Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric — as well as the Trump Organization. James is seeking $250 million and to permanently bar the Trumps from operating a business in New York State. The former president sat for a second deposition in the case earlier in April and was questioned for hours in James’s Manhattan office. (In his previous deposition last year, Trump reportedly invoked the Fifth Amendment hundreds of times.) The case is expected to go to trial in October after a judge recently rejected an attempt by Trump’s legal team to delay the proceedings by six months.