Donald Trump Facing Various Legal Challenges

Allegations of Falsifying Corporate Documents

Trump became the first former US president to be criminally indicted when a New York grand jury accused him of falsifying corporate documents in connection with a payment made to a pornographic actress before his victory in the 2016 presidential election. Trump pleaded not guilty on April 4 to 34 counts of falsifying corporate documents.

Prosecutors argue that Trump falsified documents to conceal the fact that the payment to actress Stormy Daniels exceeded federal campaign contribution limits. A trial could take place in February or March 2024, during Trump’s presidential campaign for the November 2024 elections.

Read also: US Air National Guard Member Arrested for Leaking Confidential Documents

Georgia Investigation into the 2020 Elections

A Georgia state prosecutor is investigating whether Trump and others acted illegally in attempting to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential vote in that state. The investigation focuses on a phone call that Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on January 2, 2021, asking him to “find” enough votes to overturn Trump’s defeat in Georgia.

Legal experts believe that Trump may have violated at least three Georgia criminal election laws: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud, and intentional interference with the performance of election duties.

US Department of Justice Investigation

The US Department of Justice is conducting an investigation into Trump’s actions following his defeat in the 2020 election. A special House of Representatives committee is also investigating the deadly January 6, 2021, assault by Trump supporters on the US Capitol.

Only the Department of Justice can decide whether to prosecute Trump, who has called the investigation led by the Democratic panel a politically motivated farce.

Accusations of Illegally Retaining Classified Documents

US Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Jack Smith to investigate whether Trump illegally retained classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after leaving the White House, and then attempted to obstruct a federal investigation. It is illegal to retain or willfully remove classified documents.

New York Fraud Lawsuit

New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump and his Trump Organization last September for fraud. James claims her office found over 200 instances of false asset valuations between 2011 and 2021, and that Trump inflated his net worth by several billion dollars.

The civil lawsuit seeks to permanently bar Trump and three of his adult children from running businesses in the state of New York and to recover at least $250 million obtained through fraud. A trial is scheduled for October.