Trump faces charges in a third case: Here’s a rundown of all the ongoing investigations

Donald Trump, the former US president, has been indicted for the third time, with the latest charges coming from Washington over his alleged attempts to overturn his 2020 electoral loss.

This federal case is just the latest in a series of criminal charges against Trump as he campaigns for the presidency in 2024.

Jack Smith, the special counsel responsible for the indictment relating to the election, has also accused Trump of illegally holding onto classified documents. In addition to this, Trump is dealing with criminal charges in New York in relation to a pay-off scandal, as well as a civil lawsuit pertaining to his business dealings. In Georgia, a district attorney is anticipated to make public their decision on charges in August regarding Trump’s and his allies’ efforts to nullify his election loss in the state.

The Republican ex-president denies any misconduct and claims that he is being unfairly targeted by Democrats who wish to prevent him from regaining the presidency.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
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Below are some of the other key investigations against the ex-president:

CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE

Trump is facing federal charges in Florida for improperly handling classified documents, including sensitive materials related to nuclear capabilities. He is accused of 40 felony counts, which include retaining classified information, obstructing justice, and giving false statements.

This unprecedented indictment – the first of its kind against a former president – claims that Trump repeatedly involved aides and lawyers in hiding records sought by investigators and carelessly displayed a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map.

The most serious charges could result in up to 20 years in prison.

Walt Nauta, a valet for Trump, and Carlos De Oliveira, the property manager at Trump’s Florida estate, have been charged with planning to hide surveillance footage from federal investigators and lying about it.

Both Trump and Nauta have pleaded not guilty. De Oliveira, who was charged in a subsequent indictment with Trump, made an initial court appearance on Monday.

A federal judge has scheduled a trial date for May 20, 2024. If that date holds, the possible trial could occur deep into the presidential nomination period, likely after the Republican nominee is apparent, but before the official nomination at the Republican National Convention.

HUSH MONEY SCANDAL

Trump made history as the first ex-president to face criminal charges when he was indicted in New York in March due to hush money payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign to suppress allegations of illicit sexual encounters.

He pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Each count could result in up to four years in prison, but it’s uncertain whether a judge would impose any jail time if Trump were convicted.

These counts are tied to a series of checks written to his lawyer Michael Cohen for reimbursing him for his role in silencing porn actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, shortly after Melania Trump gave birth to their son, Barron. These payments were recorded in various company documents as being for a legal retainer that prosecutors say didn’t exist.

The former president is scheduled to appear in state court on Dec. 4, two months before the Republican nomination process officially starts.

GEORGIA

For over two years, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating if Trump and his allies illegally interfered in the 2020 election in Georgia.

She has indicated that any indictments in the case will likely come this month.

The Democratic district attorney’s investigation began shortly after a recording of a phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was released. In this call, Trump suggested that Raffensperger could “find 11,780 votes” — enough to surpass Democrat Joe Biden and reverse Trump’s narrow loss in the state.

The scope of the investigation has since widened significantly, with Willis convening a special grand jury to hear testimony from witnesses including high-profile Trump allies, such as attorney Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and high-ranking Georgia officials, such as Raffensperger and Gov. Brian Kemp.

Prosecutors warned Giuliani and Georgia Republicans who served as fake electors that they were at risk of being indicted. These fake electors signed a certificate claiming Trump had won the election and declaring themselves the state’s rightful electors, despite Biden winning the state and Democratic electors being officially certified.

A court filing in early May suggested that Willis had made immunity agreements with at least eight fake electors, implying they might be cooperating with authorities.

The leader of the special grand jury publicly stated that the panel had recommended several indictments. Willis is expected to request a regular grand jury to indict in the case.

Trump has described his phone call to Raffensperger as “perfect.”

NEW YORK CIVIL CASES

New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against Trump and the Trump Organization, accusing them of misleading banks and tax authorities about the value of assets like golf courses and skyscrapers to obtain loans and tax benefits.

If James, a Democrat, is successful, the lawsuit could lead to civil penalties against the company. She is seeking a $250 million fine and a ban on Trump doing business in New York. Manhattan prosecutors looked into the same alleged conduct but did not file criminal charges.

A civil trial is set to occur in state court in October.

In a separate civil case in a federal court in New York, Trump was found liable in May for sexually abusing and defaming former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s. The jury dismissed Carroll’s claim that Trump had raped her in a dressing room.

Trump was ordered to pay $5 million to Carroll. He has appealed and has consistently denied her accusations. In July, a federal judge upheld the jury’s verdict against Trump, rejecting the former president’s assertions that the award was excessive.

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More about Donald Trump indictments

• [Trump’s Third Indictment: What It Means]
• [The Investigations into Donald Trump’s Actions]
• [Legal Battles of Donald Trump]
• [Trump’s 2024 Presidential Campaign Amid Legal Challenges]
• [Overview of Trump’s Indictments and Civil Cases]