Former President Donald Trump, the leading Republican contender in the 2024 presidential election, now faces three criminal indictments and a number of civil lawsuits as he continues his campaign.
Trump’s third indictment, consisting of four counts related to the Jan. 6 riot and attempts to overturn the 2020 election, was expected in the days leading up to the announcement. Trump said July 18 that he was a target in the investigation and predicted he would be indicted and arrested.
A federal grand jury in Washington indicted Trump on these counts:
- Conspiracy to defraud the United States.
- Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.
- Obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding.
- Conspiracy against rights.
The indictments are only part of Trump’s legal problems. He also faces a Georgia criminal investigation alleging interference in the 2020 election as well as a New York lawsuit accusing the Trump Organization of inflating its business holdings for tax and loan advantages.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has characterized the proceedings against him as politically motivated.
1st indictment
What happened: Prosecutors accuse Trump of covering up alleged state and federal election law violations by falsifying business records about a payoff to adult film actor Stormy Daniels, who tried to sell her story about an alleged affair with Trump. Prosecutors said the $130,000 payment was made to keep her story from going public as Trump ran for president in 2016.
Trump indicted: March 30, 2023.
Trump arraigned: April 3, 2023; pleaded not guilty.
Felony counts: 34, of falsifying business records.
Prosecutor: Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney.
Judge: Juan M. Merchan, acting justice, State Supreme Court.
Trial date: March 25, 2024, in New York.
2nd indictment
What happened: Trump is accused of illegally keeping classified documents, including some involving nuclear weapons, after leaving office. Prosecutors say Trump showed some of the papers to people who did not have security clearances. Charges against Trump also include obstructing justice, making false statements, and of trying to “alter, destroy, mutilate, or conceal evidence,” by asking a Mar-a-Lago staffer to delete video footage at the estate.
When was Trump indicted: June 9, 2023.
When was Trump arraigned: June 13, 2023; pleaded not guilty.
Felony counts: 37 (Trump); 6 (Walt Nauta, an aide).
The grand jury in the Southern District of Florida issued a revised indictment with additional charges connected to top-secret documentation Trump showed aides at his Bedminster, New Jersey, resort. That indictment was released July 27, 2023.
Additional felony counts: 3 (Trump); 2 (Nauta); 4 (for Carlos De Oliveria, the Mar-a-Lago property manager who was added to the indictment). Trump now faces a total of 40 felony counts.
Prosecutor: Jack Smith, Justice Department special counsel.
Judge: U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Trial date: May 20, 2024, Fort Pierce, Florida.
3rd indictment
What happened: A mob of rioters attacked the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, intending to stop certification of the presidential electoral vote and keep Trump in office. The House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol was convened in June 2022 to investigate. More than 1,000 people have been charged.
In December 2022, the House Select Committee voted to refer Trump and Trump lawyer John Eastman to the Justice Department for prosecution. A grand jury in Washington heard testimony.
On July 18, Trump said that investigators sent him what’s called a target letter. Target letters advise potential defendants that evidence exists connecting them to crimes and that an indictment is possible.
Trump will appear before Judge Moxila Upadhyaya in federal court in Washington, D.C., at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Prosecutor: Jack Smith, Justice Department special counsel.
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SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; The Associated Press
