What could have proved more fortunate for Donald Trump than being elected as the President of the United States? Because of his election victory, the federal prosecution against him has already been dismissed, his criminal cases are at risk of suffering the same fate and his state cases have been put on hold.
At this time last year, he was facing the pressure of lawsuits that could have sent him to prison for years, in addition to costing him millions of dollars.
However, sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.
Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said that since the election was a “mandate” from the people, he called for an “immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and an immediate rejection of all witch hunts against them. We stand united. look forward for.” “With President Trump as our country, we make America great again.”
According to NBC, here are some of the court cases that are glaring at Donald Trump:
case of hiding money
Trump was convicted in May in New York state court on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The records related to a hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels by Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen during the 2016 presidential election. Daniels alleged that she had a sexual relationship with Trump in 2006, which Trump denies.
Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and was initially scheduled to be sentenced in July. However, the sentencing was delayed due to a decision by the US Supreme Court, which set a new standard for presidential immunity. Trump’s lawyers argued that the ruling meant the indictment and conviction should be thrown out, because they partly relied on evidence from Trump’s time in office. Judge Juan Merchan rejected this argument in a December 16 ruling.
The judge also indicated that it would not be possible to punish Trump once he takes office. The decision was based on a Justice Department memorandum and a Supreme Court decision, which emphasizes the need for a sitting president to carry out his duties without interference in criminal proceedings. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office argues that Trump could be sentenced after his term in office ends. However, Trump’s lawyers opposed this, saying that having a pending conviction would have an undue impact on Trump’s presidency.
Georgia election interference case
Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants were indicted by the Fulton County, Georgia, district attorney’s office in August 2023. The charges allege a conspiracy to illegally overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss to Joe Biden in the state. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case stalled due to conflict of interest allegations involving District Attorney Fani Willis. Trump and some co-defendants argued that Willis should be disqualified because of her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor overseeing the case. A Georgia appeals court ruled in Trump’s favor on December 19 and disqualified Willis and her office from the case.
Willis’s office is appealing the decision, which could take several months. Even if successful, the trial would have to wait until Trump is out of office, as that is expected to take several months. Alternatively, the case may be referred to the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia to find a new prosecutor.
Pete Skandalakis, the council’s executive director, said a new prosecutor could use existing investigative work, conduct additional investigations, and choose to use or discard parts of Willis’s indictment.
civil fraud verdict
President-elect Trump faces a major financial threat, stemming from a $350 million judgment handed down by a New York judge in February last year. The judge found Trump and his company guilty of years of fraudulent conduct, which Trump denied and appealed. The judgment now exceeds $500 million including interest, leaving Trump personally liable for about $489 million.
During a September hearing, three of the five judges on the state Appellate Division panel expressed concern that the financial penalty could be excessive, but have not yet reached a decision. After the November election, Trump’s attorney, John Sawyer, requested that the case be voluntarily dismissed to promote “unity” and avoid interference with Trump’s presidential duties. However, the office of Attorney General Letitia James denied the request.
E. Jean Carroll Verdict
Author E. Jean Carroll has received two significant civil judgments against Trump in New York federal court in the past two years. In 2023, Trump was ordered to pay $5 million after being found liable for sexually assaulting and defaming Carroll. Additionally, a separate ruling awarded Carroll $83 million in damages for defamation by Trump during his presidency.
Trump has denied all charges and has appealed both rulings to the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals. Recently, an appeals court rejected Trump’s appeal of the $5 million verdict, with his spokesperson saying the decision would be further appealed.
With an appeal of the $83 million judgment still pending, Carroll’s lawyers are preparing to counter Trump’s claim that the Supreme Court’s July immunity ruling exempts him from liability for comments he made while in office. Is.
January 6 trial
Donald Trump no longer faces a criminal federal election interference case related to the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot, but he will still have to contend with eight civil lawsuits. The lawsuits were filed by law enforcement personnel injured during the attack, as well as some Democratic members of Congress.
Trump’s defense is that his actions are protected by presidential immunity. Both sides will submit applications on the issue in the coming months. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who is presiding over the case, plans to rule on the issue of presidential immunity by the summer, according to a court filing.
central park five
Donald Trump is facing a defamation lawsuit from the “Acquitted Five” – Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Corey Wise. The five men are suing Trump over comments he made during a presidential debate with Kamala Harris, where he falsely claimed he pleaded guilty to assaulting and raping a woman in Central Park in 1989. Trump also falsely said that the victim had died.
Acquitted The five, who were aged 14–16 at the time of the attack, were forced to give false confessions and were later exonerated in 2002 after DNA evidence linked another man to the crime. Trump dismissed the lawsuit, arguing that his comments were “substantially true” and protected as political speech. However, the five men claim Trump’s statements have caused them severe emotional distress and reputational harm and are asking the judge to dismiss their motion.
