Kara Sears
There have been several instances where former US President Donald Trump has been accused of breaking the law. These include his Ukraine call, where he allegedly pressured Ukraine's government to investigate his political rivals, and his posts on social media, where he claimed he was allowed to break any law he wanted. In the former case, it is unclear whether Trump broke the law, as there is no clear law on the matter. However, Justice Department veterans say that Trump may have violated a number of federal laws, including campaign finance laws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| President | Trump |
| Law broken | Campaign finance laws |
| Action | Pressuring Ukraine's government to investigate his political rivals |
| Using taxpayer-funded military aid as leverage | |
| Seeking opposition research on Biden | |
| Withholding military aid to solicit information |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's Ukraine call
It is unclear whether or not Trump broke the law with his Ukraine call. However, Justice Department veterans say that by pressuring Ukraine's government to investigate his political rivals, and possibly using taxpayer-funded military aid as leverage, Trump may have violated a number of federal laws. This includes campaign finance laws, as Trump may have abused his position to gain a competitive advantage over his adversary in the election.
At the time of the call, the US had already approved $400 million in military aid to Ukraine. However, this aid was delayed for several weeks, leading to speculation that Trump was using it as leverage to pressure Zelensky to investigate the Bidens.
Trump's actions sparked a whistleblower complaint from an anonymous CIA officer, which eventually led to Trump's first impeachment by the House of Representatives in December 2019. The articles of impeachment charged Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
While Trump's Ukraine call may not have broken any specific laws, it certainly violated the spirit of the law and the norms of presidential behaviour. It remains to be seen whether there will be any further legal consequences for Trump's actions.
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Trump's impeachment
On 6 January 2025, the Jan. 6 committee issued criminal referrals against Donald Trump and his lawyer, Eastman, for breaking laws. The Justice Department has brought obstruction of an official proceeding charges against dozens of rioters. It is also investigating an alleged scheme by Trump allies to submit 'fake electors' in battleground states won by Biden.
Trump was also accused of breaking campaign finance laws and committing tax violations. The Supreme Court's decision to grant Trump immunity from prosecution for criminal acts committed while in office has set a dangerous precedent for all future presidents.
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Trump's belief he can break any law
Trump has publicly admitted that he believes he can break any law he wants. In a post on his Truth Social site, he wrote: "He who saves his Country does not violate any Law". This sentiment was based on an apparently fake quote from Napoleon.
Trump's belief that he can break any law has been demonstrated in his actions. Justice Department veterans say that by pressuring Ukraine's government to investigate his political rivals, and possibly using taxpayer-funded military aid as leverage, Trump may have violated a number of federal laws. This includes campaign finance laws, which forbid soliciting a valuable contribution to a campaign from a foreign entity.
Trump's actions in the Ukraine whistleblower scandal have been described as "striking" by a former federal prosecutor from the Southern District of New York who specialised in organised crime. Despite this, there is no clear law on the matter, and it is not a crime for the president to personally handle legal concerns or seek the help of a foreign authority to gather information.
Ultimately, whether or not Trump broke the law will depend on how lawmakers interpret "value" and campaign finance laws.
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Trump's abuse of power
Trump has been accused of abusing his power by pressuring Ukraine's government to investigate his political rivals, potentially using taxpayer-funded military aid as leverage. This could be seen as a violation of federal laws and campaign finance laws, which forbid soliciting valuable contributions to a campaign from a foreign entity.
Trump's actions in the Ukraine whistleblower scandal have led to accusations of breaking four laws by Justice Department veterans. These include pressuring a foreign government to investigate a political rival and using military aid as a bargaining chip, which strengthens the argument of abuse of power.
Trump's belief that he can break any law he wants has been a cause for concern. He has stated, "He who saves his Country does not violate any Law," which some observers noted appeared to be based on a fake quote from Napoleon.
While there is no clear law prohibiting the president from personally handling legal concerns or seeking help from foreign authorities, his actions in the Ukraine call could be seen as an abuse of power and a violation of campaign finance laws. The interpretation of these laws will be crucial in determining whether Trump broke the law.
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Trump's use of military aid as leverage
Trump's actions in the Ukraine scandal are widely considered to be an abuse of power. By withholding military aid that had already been voted on by the American government, Trump was leveraging taxpayer money to pressure Ukraine's president. This strengthens the argument of misconduct and abuse of power, as Trump was soliciting information that would benefit himself.
While there is no clear law on the matter, Trump's actions may have broken campaign finance laws. If it is found that Trump abused his position to gain a competitive advantage over his adversary in the election, this would amount to soliciting a valuable contribution to his campaign from a foreign entity, which is forbidden.
The House of Representatives does not need to prove that a president committed a crime outlined in the federal code to pass articles of impeachment. Instead, they impeach based on whether the president committed "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors" as outlined in Article II, Section 4 of the US Constitution.
Trump himself has stated that he believes he is allowed to break any law he wants. On Presidents' Day weekend, he posted online: "He who saves his Country does not violate any Law". This sentiment, based on an apparently fake quote from Napoleon, was posted on his Truth Social site as well as his account on X (formerly known as Twitter).
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear whether Trump broke the law with his Ukraine call, but Justice Department veterans say that by pressuring Ukraine's government to investigate his political rivals and using taxpayer-funded military aid as leverage, he may have violated federal laws.
Trump posted online: "He who saves his Country does not violate any Law".
Trump was twice impeached, and Justice Department veterans say he could be accused of breaking four laws in the Ukraine whistleblower scandal.
Trump may have broken campaign finance laws by soliciting a valuable contribution to his campaign from a foreign entity. He may also have committed bribery, treason or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
The House of Representatives impeaches a president based on whether they have committed "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors" as outlined in Article II, Section 4 of the US Constitution.
