Cameron Miranda
Former US President Donald Trump has been involved in numerous lawsuits and legal cases, with over 4000 cases in US federal and state courts between 1973 and his election in 2016. Trump has been accused of sexual harassment, sexual assault, tax evasion, fraud, racketeering, defamation, and obstruction, among other charges.
One notable case involves Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, where he allegedly pressured officials, spread misinformation about election fraud, and sought to exploit the Capitol riot to stay in power. Trump has also been accused of mishandling classified documents and interfering in the Georgia 2020 election.
The Supreme Court's decision to grant Trump immunity from prosecution for official acts while in office has sparked controversy and set a precedent for future presidents. Despite these legal challenges, Trump continues to test the limits of presidential power during his second term, prompting concerns about a potential constitutional crisis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of criminal cases | 4 |
| Nature of criminal cases | Falsifying business records, conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy against the rights of citizens, mishandling classified documents |
| Outcome of criminal cases | Guilty verdict for falsifying business records; other cases pending |
| Nature of civil cases | Sexual harassment, sexual assault, defamation, fraud, racketeering, breach of contract, breach of confidentiality, conspiracy, copyright infringement, breach of confidentiality, etc. |
| Outcome of civil cases | Mixed outcomes; some settled, some ongoing |
What You'll Learn
Immunity from prosecution for official acts as president
The Supreme Court has ruled that former President Trump is at least presumptively immune from criminal liability for his official acts, and is absolutely immune for some "core" acts. This includes his attempts to use the Justice Department to obstruct the results of the 2020 election.
The Supreme Court's decision grants absolute immunity to President Trump's use of the Justice Department for fraudulent purposes. The court did, however, reject former President Trump's claim to absolute immunity for all acts unless convicted after an impeachment trial.
The court's ruling means that future presidents—including Trump, should he be re-elected—will know they can escape criminal accountability for corrupt acts, even if they strike at the heart of democracy. For example, the court's decision means that acts such as resisting the peaceful transition of power cannot be prosecuted.
The court's conception of official acts is broad, and it held that official acts cannot be used as evidence to support a crime committed in the president's personal capacity. This makes it more difficult for prosecutors to indict a president even for private criminal acts.
The Supreme Court's decision sets a dangerous precedent, giving presidents legal cover to break the law when using their formal powers. It grants immunity to criminal conduct, including all crimes committed by attempting to enlist Justice Department officials.
The decision also leaves open many questions about when and for what conduct presidents will be immune from criminal prosecutions, not only in Trump's case but also in the future.
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Conspiracy to defraud the US
Conspiracy to defraud the United States is one of the four charges levelled against former US President Donald Trump in relation to his alleged role in the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol. The charges, brought by the Justice Department, allege that Trump and six co-conspirators engaged in a "wide-ranging conspiracy" to keep him in power after losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden.
The indictment accuses Trump of knowingly spreading "pervasive and destabilising lies" about election fraud that threatened American democracy. It further alleges that Trump and his co-conspirators:
- Used "fraud and deceit to impair, obstruct and defeat how the government collects, counts and certifies the results of presidential elections".
- Conspired to "corruptly obstruct and impede the certification of the electoral college results by Congress on 6 January".
- Conspired against "the right to vote and to have one's vote counted".
The conspiracy charge is considered broadly applicable because Trump's agreement with key lawyers and potentially the rioters did not need to be overt, while the plan to have then-Vice President Mike Pence reject Biden's slates of electors with Trump slates that did not exist was deceitful.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the Biden administration is behind the prosecution.
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Obstructing an official proceeding
> Whoever corruptly—alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the object's integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.
The term "official proceeding" includes proceedings before federal judges, Congress, federal government agencies, and regulators of insurance businesses.
In June 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in Fischer v. United States that the statute could only be applied when the defendant impaired a physical document or object used in an official proceeding or attempted to do so, setting a higher bar for conviction than had been used in previous trials. This ruling could impact the prosecution of former President Donald Trump, who is facing charges of obstructing the 2020 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The Supreme Court's decision could also affect the ongoing prosecutions of nearly 250 defendants charged with obstruction for their participation in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. The law has been used in cases involving defendants who entered the Senate chamber or the offices of Congress members, or who were alleged to have prepared for violence in advance.
Donald Trump's Legal Cases
Donald Trump has been involved in numerous legal cases throughout his business career and presidency. He is the first former president in U.S. history to be criminally convicted, having been found guilty of falsifying business records. He has also been convicted of multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Trump is currently facing four criminal cases, including one related to his handling of classified documents.
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Conspiracy against rights
The law, 18 U.S.C. § 241, states that it is unlawful for two or more persons to conspire to:
- Injure
- Oppress
- Threaten
- Intimidate
Any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the United States in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
It is also unlawful for two or more persons to go in disguise on a highway or on the premises of another with the intent to prevent or hinder the free exercise or enjoyment of any such right or privilege.
In 2024, former US President Donald Trump was indicted on four criminal counts, including conspiracy against the rights of citizens, in relation to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election result. Trump allegedly pressured officials to reverse the results, spread lies about election fraud, and sought to exploit the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, to delay the certification of Joe Biden's victory and remain in power.
In August 2023, a grand jury indicted Trump on four charges for his conduct following the 2020 election, one of which was conspiracy against rights. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Trump pleaded not guilty.
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Mishandling classified documents
The mishandling of classified documents by former President Donald Trump led to a federal criminal case being brought against him, marking the first time a former US president had faced such charges. The case centred on Trump's alleged violation of multiple federal laws pertaining to the safekeeping of government secrets and national defence information.
Trump faced 40 criminal counts, including 31 counts of retaining and failing to deliver national defence documents under the Espionage Act. Each charge pertained to the possession of a specific document, with some relating to US nuclear weapons capabilities, foreign military attacks, and plans for potential retaliation against foreign attacks.
Trump was also charged with making false statements, engaging in a conspiracy to obstruct justice, and "corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating, or concealing" documents and records.
The case against Trump was dismissed in February 2025 due to his reelection and a longstanding Department of Justice policy prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president. However, the case shone a light on the responsibility of any president to safeguard sensitive government information and the potential consequences of mishandling classified documents.
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