Trump Judgements

"Wikipedia's report on Trump's legal affairs:"

Legal affairs of Donald Trump

"An analysis by USA Today published in June 2016 found that over the previous three decades, Donald Trump and his businesses have been involved in 3,500 legal cases in U.S. federal courts and state court, an unprecedented number for a U.S. presidential candidate."

"Among the most well-known Trump legal cases was the Trump University litigation. Three legal actions were brought alleging fraud, one by the New York State attorney general and the others by class action plaintiffs.[7] In November 2016, Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle the litigation."

"Judge approves $25 million settlement of Trump University lawsuit"

"A U.S. judge on Friday approved a $25 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit that claimed fraud against President Donald Trump and his Trump University real estate seminars." (Reuters) 3/31/2017

Mueller Investigation - Obstruction of Justice - Not innocent.
Mueller's "Special Counsel investigation Report"

"However, Mueller's report does in fact outline dozens of actions Trump took that were in fact obstructing the investigation, and Mueller concluded that he would have charged Trump with crimes had he been allowed to." (See 'Convictions' and 'Statute of Limitations') 4/18/2019

"Embattled Trump Foundation forced to shut down after ‘egregious pattern of illegality’"

"President Trump’s embattled charitable foundation has agreed to dissolve itself under judicial supervision as part of a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood." (ABC News) 12/18/2018

"Judge fines Trump $2 million for misusing charity foundation"

"A judge Thursday ordered President Donald Trump to pay $2 million to an array of charities as a fine for misusing his own charitable foundation to further his political and business interests." (AP) 11/8/2019

"Trump Impeached for Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress
Impeachment by the House of Representatives - #1

"The House of Representatives on Wednesday impeached President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, making him the third president in history to be charged with committing high crimes and misdemeanors and face removal by the Senate." (NYT) 12/18/2019

President Trump impeached for inciting insurrection
Impeachment by the House of Representatives - #2

The House of Representatives impeached President Trump for "Inciting Insurrection", making him the first president in history to be charged twice with committing high crimes and misdemeanors and face removal by the Senate. 1/13/2021

Trump ordered to pay settlement to porn star Stormy Daniels
"Court orders Trump to pay Stormy Daniels $44,100 to cover her legal fees"

"A California court ordered President Trump to pay Stephanie Clifford, the adult-film actress known as Stormy Daniels, $44,100 to cover her legal fees stemming from a dispute over a nondisclosure agreement."...
"In an email, Clifford’s lawyer, Clark Brewster, said the order showed the court had refused '“'to indulge the fiction that Donald J Trump wasn’t a party to the Non Disclosure Agreement or wasn’t the real party paying for silence. This is one more layer of the facade of dishonesty being peeled away.'
(WaPo) 8/22/2020

"Stormy Daniels must pay $122,000 in Trump legal bills"

"Stormy Daniels must pay nearly $122,000 of Donald Trump’s legal fees that were racked up in connection with the porn actor’s failed defamation lawsuit, an appeals court ruled Tuesday.""
"The decision in California came at about the same time that that Trump became the only ex-president to be charged with a crime. (AP) 4/5/2023

President Trump voted out of office
Trump voted a single term president (a judgement on his presidency)

President Trump formally became a one term president (before his having incited insurrection). 1/6/2021

"Trump Taxes: President Ordered to Turn Over Returns to Manhattan D.A."

"A federal judge on Monday rejected President Trump’s effort to shield his tax returns from Manhattan state prosecutors, calling the president’s argument that he was immune from criminal investigation “repugnant to the nation’s governmental structure and constitutional values.” (NYT) 10/7/2019

"The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has taken possession of former president Donald Trump's tax returns and a wealth of other financial data, an official said Thursday — records deemed central to prosecutors' sprawling criminal investigation into Trump's business activities." (WaPo) 2/25/2021

"Trump is suspended from Facebook for 2 years...".

“Facebook said Friday that it plans to suspend former president Donald Trump for two years following his comments inciting violence in the wake of the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6." (WaPo) 6/4/2021

"Trump Campaign Ordered to Pay $1.3 Million to Omarosa Manigault Newman in NDA case"

“An arbitrator found Mr. Trump’s campaign owes the former White House aide and “Apprentice” star for legal fees, after he sued her for writing a tell-all book." (NYT) 4/20/2022

"Trump organizations agree to pay $750,000 to settle lawsuit with D.C."

“The Trump Organization and former president Donald Trump’s presidential inaugural committee on Tuesday agreed to pay the District $750,000 to settle a lawsuit the city filed alleging the organizations misused nonprofit funds to benefit the former president and his family." (NYT) 5/3/2022

Guilty - Manhattan Criminal Inquiry Into Trump's paying hush-money to porn star -
Jump to latest headline ->

"President Trump said Thursday that his longtime lawyer Michael Cohen was reimbursed through a monthly retainer for a $130,000 payment made to porn actress Stormy Daniels in 2016 to stop what Trump called “false and extortionist accusations” about a decade-old affair." (WaPo) 5/3/2018

"The district attorney’s office is investigating Donald J. Trump’s role in a hush-money payment to a porn star, an approach that previously failed to bear fruit."... "To help build the hush-money case, prosecutors are revisiting another strategy that has yet to work: pressuring a top Trump lieutenant, Allen H. Weisselberg, to cooperate." (NYT) 11/21/2022

"Manhattan Prosecutors Will Begin Presenting Trump Case to Grand Jury" "The Manhattan district attorney’s office on Monday began presenting evidence to a grand jury about Donald J. Trump’s role in paying hush money to a porn star during his 2016 presidential campaign, laying the groundwork for potential criminal charges against the former president in the coming months, according to people with knowledge of the matter." (NYT) 1/30/2023

"Trump invited to testify before NY grand jury, lawyer says" "Former President Donald Trump has been invited to testify before a New York grand jury that has been investigating hush money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 presidential campaign, according to one of his lawyers."..."The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, declined to comment. Such an invitation to testify before a grand jury often indicates a decision on indictments is near." (AP) 3/10/2023

"Cohen testifies before grand jury in Trump hush money probe" "Donald Trump’s former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testified Monday before a Manhattan grand jury investigating hush money payments made on the former president’s behalf." (AP) 3/13/2023

"Stormy Daniels meets with prosecutors investigating Trump" "Porn actor Stormy Daniels met Wednesday with prosecutors who are investigating hush money paid to her on former President Donald Trump’s behalf, her lawyer said Wednesday." (AP) 3/15/2023

"Trump says he’ll be arrested Tuesday as DA eyes charges" "Donald Trump said in a social media post that he will be arrested Tuesday as a New York prosecutor is eyeing charges in a case examining hush money paid to women who alleged sexual encounters with the former president."
"Law enforcement officials in New York have been making security preparations for the possibility that Trump could be indicted." (AP) 3/18/2023

"Trump N.Y. grand jury hears from former National Enquirer publisher again -source" "A former National Enquirer publisher testified on Monday before a Manhattan grand jury hearing evidence about former President Donald Trump's role in a hush-money payment to a porn star, said a person familiar with the matter."
"Pecker had offered to help Trump in the run-up to the November 2016 presidential election by buying rights to unflattering stories and never publishing them, a practice known as 'catch and kill.'"(Reuters) 3/27/2023

"Donald Trump indicted; 1st ex-president charged with crime" "A Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict Donald Trump on charges involving payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter, his lawyers said Thursday, producing the first criminal case against a former U.S. president and a jolt to Trump’s bid to retake the White House." (AP) 3/30/2023

"Bragg Sues Jim Jordan in Move to Block Interference in Trump Case" "The Manhattan district attorney on Tuesday sued Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio in an extraordinary step intended to keep congressional Republicans from interfering in the office’s criminal case against former President Donald J. Trump." (NYT) 4/11/2023

"Daniels’s lawyer submits complaint against Trump lawyer to N.Y. panel" "Clark Brewster says Joe Tacopina has a conflict on the case in which former president faces 34 felony counts" (NYT) 4/12/2023

"N.Y. judge rules ex-Trump prosecutor must testify before House committee" "A federal judge ruled Wednesday that a former prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s investigation of Donald Trump’s business dealings must testify this week before a congressional committee." (NYT) 4/19/2023

"Appeals court halts House interview with ex-Trump prosecutor" "A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked House Republicans from questioning a former Manhattan prosecutor about the criminal case against ex-President Donald Trump, the latest twist in a legal battle between Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office and the House Judiciary Committee." (AP) 4/20/2023

"House Republicans, Manhattan DA end fight over Trump inquiry" "Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed Friday to let Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee question an ex-prosecutor about the criminal case against former President Donald Trump."
"Such requests are rarely granted in criminal cases, although Trump’s request is unprecedented because he’s the first former president ever charged with a crime."" (AP) 4/22/2023

"Donald Trump seeks to move NY criminal case to federal court" "Former president Donald Trump will appear remotely in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday so that a judge can warn him not to share evidence provided to his lawyers as part of pretrial discovery in his criminal prosecution on charges of falsifying business records." (WaPo) 5/23/2023

"Trump to appear remotely in N.Y. criminal court to hear judge’s warnings" "Donald Trump ’s lawyers have asked a federal court to take control of his New York City criminal case. They argued Thursday that the former president can’t be tried in the state court where his historic indictment was brought because the alleged conduct occurred while he was in office." (AP) 5/23/2023

"U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein on Wednesday rejected the former president’s bid to move his hush-money criminal case from New York state court to federal court, ruling that Trump’s lawyers had failed to meet a high legal bar for changing jurisdiction." "The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the matter was a purely a personal item of the President — a cover-up of an embarrassing event,” Hellerstein wrote in a 25-page ruling. “Hush money paid to an adult film star is not related to a President’s official acts. It does not reflect in any way the color of the President’s official duties.” (AP) 7/19/2023

"Trump Case Judge in New York Declines to Step Aside" "Justice Merchan relied in part on the guidance of a state advisory committee on judicial ethics, which he had questioned about the donations and his daughter’s position.
The committee determined that his impartiality could not “reasonably be questioned” based on “de minimus political contributions made more than two years ago” or his daughter’s interests, given that it did not appear that they could be substantially affected by the proceedings.” (NYT) 8/14/2023

"Trump moves to dismiss 'meandering' New York hush money case" "Former President Donald Trump wants a New York judge to dismiss the criminal case charging him with falsifying business records relating to hush money payments, arguing prosecutors waited too long to bring their case.”
Note: AP, WaPo, and NYT have NOT picked up this story as of 10/5/2023 (NBC, ABC) 10/5/2023

"Trump’s Former Finance Chief in Negotiations to Plead Guilty to Perjury" "Allen H. Weisselberg, a longtime lieutenant to Donald J. Trump, is negotiating a deal with Manhattan prosecutors that would require him to plead guilty to perjury, people with knowledge of the matter said.” (NYT) 2/1/2024

"Trump’s New York hush-money case will start March 25. It’s the first of his criminal trials" "Donald Trump’s hush-money trial will go ahead as scheduled with jury selection starting on March 25, a New York judge ruled Thursday, turning aside demands for a delay from the former president’s defense lawyers.” (AP) 2/15/2024

"Prosecutors seek gag order on Trump in NY criminal case" "New York prosecutors have asked a judge for a gag order to restrict Donald Trump from attacking witnesses or exposing jurors' identities in the former president's Manhattan criminal case, court filings made public on Monday showed.” (Reuters) 2/26/2024

"Key Figure in Trump’s Business Will Plead Guilty to Perjury" "Allen H. Weisselberg, the former Trump Organization finance chief, has already spent time at the Rikers Island jail complex. A perjury plea could send him back..... Mr. Weisselberg’s plea agreement with the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, comes weeks before the former president will stand trial on unrelated criminal charges. That case, also brought by Mr. Bragg, stems from a hush-money payment, made on Mr. Trump’s behalf, to a porn star during the 2016 presidential campaign.” (NYT) 3/4/2024

"Donald Trump wants New York hush money trial delayed until Supreme Court rules on immunity claims" "Donald Trump is seeking to delay his March 25 hush money trial until the Supreme Court rules on the presidential immunity claims he raised in another of his criminal cases.” (AP) 3/11/2024

"Manhattan Prosecutors Propose a 30-Day Delay of Trump Trial" "The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which accused Mr. Trump of covering up a sex scandal during and after the 2016 presidential campaign, said the delay would give Mr. Trump’s lawyers time to review a new batch of records. The office only recently obtained the records from federal prosecutors, who years ago investigated the same hush-money payments at the center of the case.” (AP) 3/14/2024

"Judge Keeps April 15 as Start of Trump Hush-Money Trial" "Donald J. Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to hide a potential sex scandal is scheduled to start on April 15 after a judge on Monday denied the former president’s attempts to delay it further.” (NYT) 3/25/2024

"Judge Imposes Gag Order on Trump in Manhattan Criminal Trial" "The New York judge presiding over one of Donald J. Trump’s criminal trials imposed a gag order on Tuesday that prohibits him from attacking witnesses, prosecutors and jurors, the latest effort to rein in the former president’s wrathful rhetoric about his legal opponents.” (NYT) 3/26/2024

"Trump ramps up attacks on judges, sparking concerns as criminal trial nears" "Trump’s personal attacks against the daughter of the New York judge overseeing a hush money case prompted the judge to expand an existing gag order to include his family and the district attorney’s family.” (WaPo) 4/1/2024

"Judge Won’t Delay Trump’s Criminal Trial to Wait for Immunity Ruling" "The judge overseeing Donald J. Trump’s criminal case in Manhattan rejected his last-ditch bid to delay a trial beyond April 15, removing on Wednesday one of the final obstacles to the first prosecution of a former American president.” (NYT) 4/3/2024

"Trump subpoena to NBC over Stormy Daniels documentary blocked by judge" "Justice Juan Merchan said Trump's claim that Daniels and NBC conspired to release the film close to the trial to damage him was unsupported. "His subpoena and the demands therein are the very definition of a fishing expedition," the judge wrote in a court order.” (Reuters) 4/5/2024

"Trump to Sue Judge in Last-Ditch Attempt to Avert Manhattan Trial" "Court records showed on Monday that Mr. Trump was filing an action against the judge, Juan M. Merchan, though the papers were not immediately made public. An online court docket where Mr. Trump is expected to file the so-called Article 78 action — a special proceeding that can be used to challenge New York state government agencies and judges — showed that the related paperwork was sealed.” (NYT) 4/8/2024

"Appeals Court Denies Another Trump Attempt to Delay Trial" "One week before Donald J. Trump is set to go on trial for criminal charges in Manhattan, an appeals court judge on Monday rejected his effort to pause the case and move it to a different location.” (NYT) 4/8/2024

"N.Y. appeals judge denies Trump’s second trial delay bid in two days" "An appeals judge on Tuesday rejected Donald Trump’s second request in two days to delay next week’s start of his hush money criminal trial, this time based on his claim that a limited gag order is impeding his right to publicly defend himself.” (WaPo) 4/9/2024

"New York appeals court rejects Donald Trump’s third request to delay Monday’s hush money trial" "Donald Trump is now 0 for 3 in last-minute attempts to get a New York appeals court to delay his looming hush money criminal trial. An appeals court judge Wednesday swiftly rejected the latest salvo from the former president’s lawyers, who argued he should be on the campaign trail rather than “in a courtroom defending himself” starting next week.” (AP) 4/10/2024

"Judge declines to delay Trump’s NY hush money trial over complaints of pretrial publicity" "Judge Juan M. Merchan wrote that Trump “appears to take the position that his situation and this case are unique and that the pre-trial publicity will never subside. However, this view does not align with reality.”
Pointing to Trump’s two federal defamation trials and a state civil fraud trial in Manhattan within the past year, Merchan wrote that the ex-president himself “was personally responsible for generating much, if not most, of the surrounding publicity with his public statements” outside those courtrooms and on social media.” (AP) 4/12/2024

"Prosecutors Want Trump Fined $3,000 For Violating Judge Merchan’s Gag Order" "Prosecutors argued Monday at former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial that the ex-president violated his gag order and should be fined, asking Judge Juan Merchan to hold Trump in contempt after he criticized potential witnesses in the criminal case.” (Forbes) 4/15/2024

"Trump’s latest appeal has been denied" "An appeals court judge has once again denied a request by Trump’s attorneys to halt his criminal trial as they seek to have the case moved outside of Manhattan.” (AP) 4/19/2024

"Trump held in contempt of court for violating gag order in hush money case and ordered to pay $9,000" "Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined $9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case.” (AP) 4/30/2024

"Judge fines ex-president for violating gag order again, warns of jail time for future infractions" "Judge Juan M. Merchan has again held Trump in contempt of court and fined him another $1,000 for violating the gag order, sternly warning the former president of the possibility of jail for future violations.” (AP) 5/6/2024

"Appeals Court Upholds Gag Order on Trump in Manhattan Trial" "A New York State appeals court on Tuesday upheld a gag order imposed on former President Donald J. Trump in his criminal trial in Manhattan, rejecting arguments that the measure had violated Mr. Trump’s First Amendment rights.” (NYT) 5/14/2024

"Donald Trump found guilty on all counts in N.Y. hush money trial" "Donald Trump has been convicted on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump, who was indicted in connection with a hush money payment made to an adult-film actress ahead of the 2016 presidential election, is the first former president convicted of a crime.” (WaPo) 5/30/2024

"New York’s top court declines to hear Trump’s appeal of gag order in hush money case" "New York’s top court on Tuesday declined to hear Donald Trump’s gag order appeal in his hush money case, leaving the restrictions in place following his felony conviction last month. The Court of Appeals found that the order does not raise “substantial” constitutional issues that would warrant an immediate intervention.” (AP) 6/18/2024

"Trump Can Now Criticize Witnesses Who Testified Against Him, Judge Rules" "A judge on Tuesday loosened a gag order on Donald J. Trump in his Manhattan criminal case, allowing the former president to criticize witnesses who took the stand against him as well as others involved in the trial that led to his conviction.” (NYT) 6/25/2024

"Trump Moves to Overturn Manhattan Conviction, Citing Immunity Decision" "Donald J. Trump began an effort on Monday to throw out his recent criminal conviction in Manhattan and postpone his upcoming sentencing, citing a new Supreme Court ruling that granted him broad immunity from prosecution for official actions he took as president, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.” (NYT) 7/1/2024

"Trump loses appeal of gag order in hush money criminal case" "A New York state appeals court on Thursday rejected Donald Trump's challenge to a gag order in his hush money criminal case, where the former U.S. president was convicted in May on charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star.” (Reuters) 8/1/2024

"US Supreme Court declines to halt Trump's sentencing in hush money case" "The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid by the state of Missouri to halt Donald Trump's upcoming sentencing for his conviction in New York on felony charges involving hush money paid to a porn star and left a related gag order until after the Nov. 5 presidential election.” (Reuters) 8/5/2024

"Judge in Trump's hush money case delays date for ruling on presidential immunity" "The judge in Donald Trump's hush money trial is pushing back a date for a key ruling on presidential immunity until two days before Trump's scheduled sentencing.” (AP) 8/6/2024

"Judge rejects Donald Trump’s latest demand to step aside from hush money criminal case" "In a decision posted Wednesday, Judge Juan M. Merchan declined to step aside and said Trump’s demand was a rehash “rife with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated claims” about his ability to remain impartial.” (AP) 8/14/2024

"Donald Trump asks judge to delay sentencing in hush money case until after November election" "In a letter made public Thursday, lawyers for the former president and current Republican nominee suggested that sentencing Trump as scheduled on Sept. 18 — about seven weeks before Election Day — would amount to election interference.” (AP) 8/15/2024

"Trump asks federal court to intervene in hush money case in bid to toss conviction and delay sentencing" "Former President Donald Trump asked a federal court late Thursday to intervene in his New York hush money criminal case, seeking a pathway to overturn his felony conviction and indefinitely delay his sentencing next month.” (AP) 8/30/2024

"Federal judge rejects Donald Trump’s request to intervene in wake of hush money conviction" "A federal judge on Tuesday swiftly rejected Donald Trump’s request to intervene in his New York hush money criminal case, spurning the former president’s attempt at an end-run around the state court where he was convicted and is set to be sentenced in two weeks.” (AP) 9/4/2024

"Trump hush money sentencing delayed until after election" "A New York judge on Friday delayed former U.S. President Donald Trump's sentencing in his hush money criminal case until after the Nov. 5 election, writing that he wants to avoid the unwarranted perception of a political motive.” (Reuters) 9/6/2024

"2nd Circuit rejects Donald Trump’s request to halt postconviction proceedings in hush money case" "A federal appeals court has rejected Donald Trump’s request to halt postconviction proceedings in his hush money criminal case, leaving a key ruling and the former president’s sentencing on track for after the November election.” (AP) 9/12/2024

Trump tax returns requested by the House of Representatives.

"A U.S. House of Representatives committee has the right to see former President Donald Trump's tax returns, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday, rejecting his claims that the request was invalid because it was politically motivated. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled against the Republican former president, saying the committee's request was justified as part of its legislative work. The Democratic-led House Ways and Means Committee said it expects to receive the tax records immediately." (Reuters) 8/9/2022

"A House committee seeking financial records from former President Donald Trump has reached an agreement that ends litigation on the matter and requires an accounting firm to turn over some of the material, the panel’s leader announced Thursday. (AP) 9/1/2022

"Supreme Court denies Trump request to withhold tax returns from Congress" The court’s order means that the Treasury Department may quickly hand over six years of tax records from Trump and some of his companies to the House Ways and Means Committee. (AP) 11/22/2022

"U.S. House committee releases Trump tax returns he sought to keep secret" Democrats in Congress released six years of Donald Trump's tax records to the public on Friday, disclosing documents the former president long sought to keep secret and dealing another setback as he again seeks the White House in 2024." (Reuters) 12/30/2022

Manhattan District Attorney: Trump Organization criminal tax fraud - Guilty

"Trump Org. was secretly held in contempt for hindering probe" “Donald Trump’s company impeded a grand jury investigation last year by repeatedly failing to turn over evidence in a timely fashion, leading to a secret contempt finding and a $4,000 fine, according to court records made public Tuesday." (AP) 10/7/2021 - 12/13/2022

"Trump Organization CFO pleads guilty to 15 tax fraud charges..." “Longtime Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg pleaded guilty to tax fraud charges, the latest blow to former President Donald Trump in a fraught few weeks that have seen fresh legal peril emerge from several directions." (Fortune) 8/18/2022

"Trump Organization convicted in executive tax dodge scheme" “A jury found two corporate entities at the Trump Organization guilty on all 17 counts, including conspiracy charges and falsifying business records." (AP) 12/6/2022

"Trump Organization sentenced to pay $1.6 million penalty in tax fraud case" “The Trump Organization was sentenced to pay $1.6 million in fines to the state on Friday — the maximum allowed by law — following its December conviction on tax crimes carried out by two of its longtime executives." (WaPo) 1/13/2023

In Motion - New York State Attorney General: Civil lawsuit Trump Organization tax fraud - Jump to latest headline ->

“The New York attorney general, Letitia James, had been working with Manhattan prosecutors on their criminal investigation. But she is also conducting a parallel civil inquiry into some of the same conduct, including scrutinizing whether Mr. Trump’s company fraudulently misled lenders about the value of its assets." (NYT) 2/24/2022

Donald Trump - Contempt of court for failure to turn over records.“Donald Trump was held in contempt of court on Monday for failing to turn over records being sought as part of a civil probe into his business practices — a striking public admonishment of the former president, who remains dominant in the Republican Party and has signaled he will again seek the White House in 2024." (WaPo) 4/24/2022
"Trump paid $110,000 in fines after he was held in contempt of court for being slow to respond to a subpoena James’ office issued seeking documents and other evidence..." (AP) 5/20/2022

Trump pleads 5th over 440 times. “The former president invoked his right against self-incrimination during a deposition that the New York attorney general’s office had hoped would be a turning point in a civil investigation into his business practices. It is one of several active investigations into Mr. Trump.." (NYT) 8/10/2022

"New York AG Letitia James files $250M lawsuit against Trump for defrauding lenders, others." ABC News “Attorney General Letitia James of New York filed a sweeping lawsuit on Wednesday that accused Donald J. Trump, his family business and three of his children of lying to lenders and insurers by fraudulently overvaluing his assets by billions of dollars." (NYT) 9/21/2022

"A New York court Monday appointed retired Judge Barbara Jones to oversee some of the Trump Organization’s financial statements as part of a lawsuit alleging widespread fraud by former President Donald Trump, his businesses and his family members." (CNBC) 10/14/2022

"Trump sues New York AG Letitia James after she sued him for $250M"."Former President Donald Trump asked a Florida court on Wednesday to shield his revocable trust from New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has filed a $250 million civil lawsuit against Trump and his family" (ABCNews) 11/3/2022

"Trump rebuffed by judge in New York fraud lawsuit, trial date set" "A New York judge has scheduled an October 2023 trial for former U.S. President Donald Trump, three of his adult children and the Trump Organization in a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James accusing them of fraudulently overvaluing the real estate company's assets and Trump's net worth." (Reuters) 11/22/2022

"N.Y. judge refuses to dismiss attorney general’s $250 million Trump lawsuit" "NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Letitia James’s $250 million lawsuit against former president Donald Trump over a decade’s worth of allegedly fraudulent business practices will go forward after a judge refused to dismiss it on Friday, calling arguments by Trump’s team “frivolous." (WaPo) 1/7/2023

"Donald Trump withdraws lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James" "Less than a day after receiving a warning from a federal judge, former President Donald Trump has withdrawn his lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James. The withdrawal came in a brief document filed Friday morning with U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks, who late Thursday warned Trump's legal team that the lawsuit appeared to verge on frivolous."
This comes the day after: "On Thursday, Middlebrooks ordered Trump and his attorney Alina Habba to pay fines of nearly $1 million after determining that Trump's 2022 lawsuit against Hillary Clinton was frivolous litigation meant only to "seek revenge". (ABCNews) 1/20/2023

"New York attorney general calls for new sanctions against Donald Trump" "The court has already admonished defendants and their counsel for their continued invocation of meritless legal claims but exercised its discretion in not imposing such sanctions," the letter said. "It does not appear that this point was taken." (Reuters) 2/2/2023

"Judge upholds Donald Trump contempt order, sanctions in New York civil probe" "A New York state appeals court on Tuesday upheld an order finding Donald Trump in civil contempt for having failed to comply with a subpoena from New York Attorney General Letitia James in her probe of his business practices." (Reuters) 2/14/2023

"Donald Trump returning to NYC for deposition in $250M civil lawsuit" "Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to return to New York City Thursday to sit for a second deposition as part of New York Attorney General Letitia James' $250 million civil fraud lawsuit, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News." (ABC News) 2/14/2023

"Court Throws Out New York’s Civil Case Against Ivanka Trump" "A New York appeals court on Tuesday dismissed the New York attorney general’s civil case against Donald J. Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and potentially limited the case against the former president and his family business, which is set to go to trial in October." (NYT) 6/27/2023

"New York attorney general seeks immediate verdict in fraud lawsuit against Donald Trump" "New York's attorney general says a judge doesn't need to wait until an October trial in her civil lawsuit against former President Donald Trump to rule that he committed fraud while building his real estate empire.
... To rule, Engoron needs only to answer two questions, James' office argued: whether Trump’s annual financial statements were false or misleading, and whether he and the Trump Organization used those statements while conducting business transactions." (AP) 8/30/2023

"New York attorney general again seeks sanctions for Trump in civil case" "New York Attorney General Letitia James asked a civil judge on Tuesday to impose sanctions against Donald Trump and his attorneys, saying they improperly relied on already rejected arguments in seeking the dismissal of a $250 million lawsuit against the former president." (WaPo) 9/5/2023

"Judge rejects Trump bid to delay New York fraud trial" "A New York state judge on Wednesday rejected Donald Trump's bid to delay a scheduled Oct. 2 trial in state Attorney General Letitia James' civil fraud lawsuit accusing him, family members and his business of overvaluing assets by billions of dollars.... Engoron called Trump's arguments for a delay 'completely without merit.' (Reuters) 9/6/2023

"Donald Trump’s last-minute legal challenge could disrupt New York fraud trial" "Justice David Friedman, a judge on the state’s intermediate appellate court, granted an interim stay of the trial and ordered the full appeals court to consider the lawsuit on an expedited basis. The court indicated it would issue a decision the week of Sept. 25, meaning the trial could still start on schedule depending on how it rules." (AP) 9/14/2023

"Judge rules Donald Trump defrauded banks, insurers while building real estate empire" "Judge Arthur Engoron, ruling in a civil lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general, found that the former president and his company deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing.
Engoron ordered that some of Trump’s business licenses be rescinded as punishment, making it difficult or impossible for them to do business in New York, and said he would continue to have an independent monitor oversee the Trump Organization’s operations." (AP) 9/26/2023

"Court rejects Donald Trump’s bid to delay trial in wake of fraud ruling that threatens his business" "An appeals court Thursday rejected Donald Trump’s bid to delay a civil trial in a lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general, allowing the case to proceed days after a judge ruled the former president committed years of fraud and stripped him of some companies as punishment." (AP) 9/28/2023

"Judge issues gag order in fraud case after Trump assails staffer on social media" "The judge overseeing a civil trial over alleged business fraud committed by Donald Trump and his company issued a gag order in the case Tuesday barring the former president from making public comments about his court staff." (WaPo) 10/3/2023

"Judge orders Trump to provide list of companies to be dissolved" "In today's order, Engoron asks the defendants to provide a list of "entities controlled or beneficially owned by Donald J. Trump" and the other co-defendants to the Hon. Barbara S. Jones, the independent monitor overseeing Trump's business activities. Trump is also required to notify Jones of any news business applications or changes to preexisting entities.”
Note: AP, WaPo, and NYT have NOT picked up this story as of 10/5/2023 (NBC, ABC). Also, this has been reported as a move to prevent Trump from moving money out of his current businesses. 10/5/2023

"Trump Drops Lawsuit Against Michael Cohen, His Former Fixer" "The suit had been seen as an effort to silence Mr. Cohen, who is scheduled to testify against Mr. Trump in the civil fraud case brought by New York’s attorney general."
"The decision to drop the case came just days before Mr. Trump was scheduled to be questioned under oath by Mr. Cohen’s lawyers. It also comes on the verge of Mr. Cohen’s testifying against Mr. Trump in an unrelated civil fraud case brought by the New York attorney general." (NYT) 10/5/2023

"Trump’s New York civil fraud trial rolls on after an appeals judge declines to halt it" "Former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial will roll ahead next week after he lost a bid Friday to postpone it." (AP) 10/6/2023

"Trump Fined $5,000 for Breaking Gag Order by Leaving Abusive Post Online" "The judge presiding over the civil fraud trial of Donald J. Trump fined the former president $5,000 on Friday for a “blatant violation” of a gag order imposed this month.
The judge, Arthur F. Engoron, stopped short of holding Mr. Trump in contempt but warned that the former president still could face harsher punishments, even jail time, if he ran afoul of the order again." (NYT) 10/20/2023

"Trump is fined $10,000 over a comment he made outside court in his New York civil fraud trial" "Donald Trump was called to the witness stand and then fined $10,000 on Wednesday after a judge concluded that the former president had violated a limited gag order in his civil fraud trial. It was the second time in less than a week that Trump was penalized for his out-of-court comments." (AP) 10/20/2023

"Donald Trump is set to testify Nov. 6 in civil fraud trial. Daughter Ivanka also will testify" "Donald Trump is set to testify Nov. 6 at his New York civil fraud trial, following his three eldest children to the witness stand in a case that threatens to disrupt their family’s real estate empire, state lawyers said Friday." (AP) 10/27/2023

"Trump’s lawyers want a mistrial in his New York civil fraud case. They claim the judge is biased" "Lawyers for Donald Trump asked for a mistrial Wednesday in the New York civil fraud case that threatens the former president’s real estate empire. His team accuses the judge of tainting the proceedings with “tangible and overwhelming” bias." (AP) 11/15/2023

"Judge Denies Trump’s Request for a Mistrial in Fraud Case" "The New York state judge presiding over Donald J. Trump’s civil fraud trial defended his work on Friday as he rejected a mistrial bid from the former president’s lawyers in which they had accused him of political bias." (NYT) 11/17/2023

"Trump Again Barred From Insulting Court Staff in Civil Fraud Trial" "An appeals court on Thursday reinstated a narrow gag order on Donald J. Trump that bars him from attacking court staff in his civil fraud trial in New York. The former president has already violated the order twice, incurring a total of $15,000 in fines." (NYT) 12/15/2023

"Judge criticizes Trump's expert witness as he again refuses to toss fraud lawsuit" "Judge Arthur Engoron issued a written ruling Monday denying the Republican's latest request for a verdict in his favor in a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James." (AP) 12/18/2023

"New York A.G. Seeks $370 Million From Trump After Civil Fraud Trial" "The penalty was well over the $250 million that the attorney general, Letitia James, had estimated in the fall of 2022, when she sued the former president." (NYT) 1/5/2024

"Judge rescinds permission for Trump to give his own closing argument at his civil fraud trial" "Donald Trump won't make his own closing argument after all in his New York civil business fraud trial after his lawyers objected to the judge's insistence that the former president stick to “relevant” matters." (AP) 1/10/2024

"Trump Gag Order Not Constitutional Issue, NY Top Court Says" "New York's top appellate court on Tuesday rejected Donald Trump's initial challenge to gag orders issued during the state attorney general's civil fraud case that limited his ability to comment on..." (Law360) 1/16/2024

"As Trump Awaits Fraud Penalty, a Monitor’s Report Could Raise His Risk" "A monitor drew attention to “deficiencies” in the Trump Organization’s financial reporting ahead of a verdict in a case brought by New York State that seeks $370 million." (NYT) 1/29/2024

"Judge in Trump’s Civil Fraud Case Asks Whether a Key Witness Lied" "The judge, Arthur F. Engoron, asked Mr. Trump’s lawyers to address the truthfulness of the witness, Allen H. Weisselberg, Mr. Trump’s longtime chief financial officer. Mr. Weisselberg and Mr. Trump are both defendants in the case, which was brought by the New York attorney general, Letitia James." (NYT) 2/6/2024

"Donald Trump fraud verdict: $364 million penalty in New York civil fraud case" "A New York judge ruled Friday against Donald Trump, imposing a $364 million penalty over what the judge ruled was a yearslong scheme to dupe banks and others with financial statements that inflated the former president’s wealth.
Trump also was barred from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation for three years." (NYT) 2/16/2024

"Trump lawyers seek delay in enforcement of $350 million fraud judgment" "NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s attorneys Wednesday requested a month-long delay in enforcement of a civil fraud judgment of more than $350 million against the former president, saying they had concerns with a proposal drafted by the state attorney general’s office." (WaPo) 2/21/2024

"Judge denies Trump's request to delay enforcement of $355M fraud case penalties" "The judge in former President Donald Trump's civil fraud case has rejected a request from the defense to delay the enforcement of the penalties in the case." (ABC News) 2/22/2024

"Trump appeals $454 million judgment NY civil fraud case" "Donald Trump on Monday appealed a judge's ruling that the former U.S. president must pay $454 million in penalties and interest for fraudulently exaggerating his net worth and the values of his real estate holdings to secure better loan terms." (Reuters) 2/26/2024

"Trump Says He Might Have to Sell Properties to Pay $454 Million Penalty" "Donald J. Trump offered a New York appeals court on Wednesday a bond of only $100 million to pause the more than $450 million judgment he faces in his civil fraud case, saying that he might need to sell some of his properties unless he gets relief." (NYT) 2/28/2024

"Judge won’t delay Trump financial penalty but lets sons temporarily remain atop company" "A New York judge on Wednesday rejected a request from former president Donald Trump to delay enforcement of a judgment totaling at least $450 million while he appeals that order. But he did allow Trump’s adult sons to remain in leadership positions atop the Trump Organization for the time being." (NYT) 2/28/2024

"Trump Spurned by 30 Companies as He Seeks Bond in $454 Million Judgment" "Donald J. Trump’s lawyers disclosed on Monday that he had failed to secure a roughly half-billion dollar bond in his civil fraud case in New York, arguing that doing so was “a practical impossibility." (NYT) 3/18/2024

"Trump Can Post Smaller Bond in Civil Fraud Case, Court Rules" "With Donald J. Trump on the clock to secure a nearly half-billion-dollar bond in his civil fraud case, a New York appeals court appears to have handed the former president a lifeline on Monday, saying it would accept a far smaller bond of $175 million." (NYT) 3/25/2024

"Trump posts $175M bond to keep N.Y. authorities from seizing property" "Donald Trump posted a $175 million bond on Monday to prevent New York authorities from seizing his assets, including properties such as Trump Tower, pending appeal of a civil fraud judgment against him of nearly a half-billion dollars." (WaPo) 4/1/2024

"New York Attorney General Questions Trump’s $175 Million Bond Deal" "The New York attorney general’s office on Thursday took exception to a $175 million bond that Donald J. Trump recently posted in his civil fraud case, questioning the qualifications of the California company that provided it." (NYT) 4/4/2024

"Trump’s $175 Million Fraud Bond Should Be Replaced Because Company Can’t Prove They Can Pay It, AG Argues" "The New York attorney general’s office argued Friday that the $175 million bond former President Donald Trump put up in the civil fraud case against him and his company is insufficient and should be thrown out, claiming the company that underwrote the bond hasn’t shown it has the “financial capacity” to pay it ahead of a Monday hearing on the bond’s fate." (Forbes) 4/19/2024

"Trump’s $175 million bond in New York civil fraud judgment case is settled with cash promise" "As part of a deal struck during a 20-minute recess, lawyers for Trump and Knight Specialty Insurance Company agreed to keep the $175 million in a cash account that will gain interest but faces no downside risk. The account so far has grown by over $700,000." (AP) 4/22/2024

"Appellate judges skeptical of New York civil fraud case against Trump" "Appeals court judges signaled skepticism on Thursday toward the civil fraud case brought by New York state against Donald Trump as the former president asked them to toss a nearly half-billion dollar judgment against him over real estate business practices that a trial judge declared fraudulent." (Reuters) 9/26/2024

Indictment - Justice Department: Investigation into Trump's attempt to overturn 2020 election - Jump to latest headline ->

"Garland names special counsel to lead Trump-related probes" “Attorney General Merrick Garland named a special counsel on Friday to oversee the Justice Department’s investigation into the presence of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate as well as key aspects of a separate probe involving the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and efforts to undo the 2020 election." (AP) 10/18/2022

"Pence subpoenaed by special counsel probing Trump" “Former Vice President Mike Pence has been subpoenaed by the special counsel overseeing investigations into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, according to a person with direct knowledge of the event." (NYT) 2/10/2023

"Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Subpoenaed in Jan. 6 Investigation" “Former President Donald J. Trump’s daughter Ivanka and his son-in-law Jared Kushner have been subpoenaed by the special counsel to testify before a federal grand jury about Mr. Trump’s efforts to stay in power after he lost the 2020 election and his role in a pro-Trump mob’s attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to two people briefed on the matter." (NYT) 2/22/2023

"Former Trump Officials Must Testify in 2020 Election Inquiry, Judge Says" “A federal judge has ruled that a number of former officials from President Donald J. Trump’s administration — including his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows — cannot invoke executive privilege to avoid testifying to a grand jury investigating Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.." (NYT) 3/24/2023

"Pence Must Testify to Jan. 6 Grand Jury, Judge Rules" “A federal judge has ordered former Vice President Mike Pence to appear in front of a grand jury investigating former President Donald J. Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election, largely sweeping aside two separate legal efforts by Mr. Pence and Mr. Trump to limit his testimony, according to two people familiar with the matter." (NYT) 3/28/2023

"Pence won’t appeal ruling that compels his grand jury testimony on Jan. 6" “Former vice president Mike Pence will not appeal a judge’s ruling that requires him to testify in front of a grand jury exploring the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, a spokesman said Thursday, likely setting up a pivotal moment in the special counsel investigation related to former president Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election." (WaPo) 4/5/2023

"Trump Appeals Decision Forcing Pence to Testify to Jan. 6 Grand Jury" “Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump asked a federal appeals court on Monday to narrow the scope of the testimony that former Vice President Mike Pence has to give a grand jury investigating Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, according to a person familiar with the matter." (NYT) 4/10/2023

"Trump Can’t Stop Pence From Testifying to Jan. 6 Grand Jury, Court Rules" “A federal appeals court rejected on Wednesday night an emergency attempt by former President Donald J. Trump to stop former Vice President Mike Pence from testifying in front of a grand jury investigating Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election." (NYT) 4/26/2023

"Pence testifies before election probe grand jury" “Former Vice President Mike Pence testified Thursday before a federal grand jury investigating efforts by then-President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, according to a person familiar with the matter." (AP) 4/27/2023

"A second firm hired by Trump campaign found no evidence of election fraud" “Former president Trump’s campaign quietly commissioned a second firm to study election fraud claims in the weeks after the 2020 election, and the founder of the firm was recently questioned by the Justice Department about his work disproving the claims. Ken Block, founder of the firm Simpatico Software Systems, studied more than a dozen voter fraud theories and allegations for Trump’s campaign in late 2020 and found they were 'all false,' he said in an interview with The Washington Post. 'No substantive voter fraud was uncovered in my investigations looking for it, nor was I able to confirm any of the outside claims of voter fraud that I was asked to look at,' he said." (WaPo) 4/27/2023

"Justice Dept. asking about 2020 fraud claims as well as fake electors" “The Justice Department’s investigation of efforts by Donald Trump and his advisers to overturn the 2020 election results is barreling forward on multiple tracks, according to people familiar with the matter, with prosecutors focused on ads and fundraising pitches claiming election fraud as well as plans for “fake electors” that would swing the election to the incumbent president." (WaPo) 6/26/2023

"Trump says he received a target letter in federal Jan. 6 investigation" “Donald J. Trump said Tuesday morning that he received a letter from the Justice Department saying that he is the target of the long running investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
The former president wrote on social media that Special Counsel Jack Smith — the prosecutor leading the federal investigation — sent a letter on Sunday." (WaPo) 7/18/2023

"Trump charged in probe of Jan. 6, efforts to overturn 2020 election" “A grand jury indicted former president Donald Trump Tuesday for a raft of alleged crimes in his brazen efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election — the latest legal and political aftershock stemming from the riot at the U.S. Capitol two and a half years ago.
The four-count, 45-page indictment accuses Trump of three distinct conspiracies, charging that he conspired to defraud the U.S., conspired to obstruct an official proceeding and conspired against people’s rights." (WaPo) 8/1/2023

"Prosecutors ask judge to issue protective order after Trump post appearing to promise revenge" “Prosecutors asked U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to issue a protective order in the case a day after Trump pleaded not guilty to charges of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and block the peaceful transition of power. The order — which is different from a so-called “gag order” — would limit what information Trump and his legal team could share publicly about the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith." (AP) 8/5/2023

"Previously Secret Memo Laid Out Strategy for Trump to Overturn Biden’s Win" “The existence of the Dec. 6, 2020, memo came to light in last week’s indictment of Mr. Trump, though its details remained unclear. But a copy obtained by The New York Times shows for the first time that the lawyer, Kenneth Chesebro, acknowledged from the start that he was proposing “a bold, controversial strategy” that the Supreme Court “likely” would reject in the end." (NYT) 8/8/2023

"Twitter was fined $350,000 for failing to turn over Trump’s data" “A lower-court judge, Beryl A. Howell, ruled in March that Twitter, now renamed X, had to comply with a sealed search warrant requested by the special counsel and pay $350,000 for missing a court-ordered deadline by three days. The filing also reveals that Howell had found reason to believe that should the search warrant be made public, Trump might engage in obstructive conduct or flee prosecution." (WaPo) 8/9/2023

"Special Counsel Proposes January Date for Trump’s Election Interference Trial" “In a motion filed to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who is presiding over the case in Federal District Court in Washington, the prosecutors said they were ready not only to go to trial on Jan. 2, but were also poised to give Mr. Trump’s lawyers the bulk of their discovery evidence in the next two weeks or so. The prosecutors further proposed that Mr. Trump’s lawyers submit their first pretrial motions in not much more than a month." (NYT) 8/10/2023

"Trump asks to push Jan. 6 trial beyond 2024 election — to April 2026" “In a 16-page filing, attorney Gregory Singer argued for the defense team that putting Trump on trial as requested by prosecutors on Jan. 2, 2024, on charges of plotting to undermine the federal government, obstruct the certification of the 2020 presidential election and disenfranchise voters would mark a “rush to trial” that would violate his constitutional rights and be “flatly impossible” given the enormity of the government’s evidence." (WaPo) 8/18/2023

"Prosecutors Criticize Trump’s Request for 2026 Trial Date in Jan. 6 Case" “Federal prosecutors pushed back on Monday against former President Donald J. Trump’s request to postpone his election interference trial in Washington until well into 2026, asserting that his main reason for the delay — the amount of evidence his lawyers have to sort through — was vastly overstated." (NYT) 8/21/2023

"Judge Sets Trial Date in March for Trump’s Federal Election Case" “Judge Tanya S. Chutkan rejected efforts by the former president’s legal team to postpone the trial until 2026." (NYT) 8/28/2023

"Trump lawyers seek recusal of judge in DC presiding over federal election subversion case" “The recusal motion from Trump’s lawyers takes aim at U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, a former assistant public defender who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama and has stood out as one of the toughest punishers of Jan. 6 defendants. The request is a long shot given the high threshold for recusal and because the decision on whether to recuse belongs to Chutkan, who is unlikely to see cause to step aside from the case." (AP) 9/11/2023

"Special Counsel Seeking Limited Gag Order on Trump in Election Case" “Federal prosecutors have asked the judge overseeing former President Donald J. Trump’s indictment on charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election to impose “a narrowly tailored” gag order on him, citing his “near-daily” social media attacks on numerous people involved in the case, according to court papers released on Friday." (NYT) 9/15/2023

"Judge Denies Trump’s Request That She Recuse Herself in Election Case" “The judge overseeing former President Donald J. Trump’s trial on charges of seeking to overturn the 2020 election denied on Wednesday his attempt to disqualify her from the case for supposedly being biased against him.
In a strongly worded order, the judge, Tanya S. Chutkan of Federal District Court in Washington, rejected claims by Mr. Trump’s lawyers that she had shown bias against the former president in statements she made from the bench in two cases related to the attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, 2021." (NYT) 9/27/2023

"Federal prosecutors press Trump gag order request as judge sets hearing for arguments" “They said his attacks have continued since the initial Sept. 15 request, citing critical comments in a television interview about witnesses referenced in the indictment — including former Attorney General William Barr — as well as a social media post from last week in which he suggested that Mark Milley, the retiring chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had committed treason and should be executed." (AP) 9/29/2023

"Trump lawyers seek dismissal of DC federal election subversion case, arguing presidential immunity" “Lawyers for Donald Trump asked a judge Thursday to dismiss the Washington federal election subversion case against him, arguing the Republican is immune from prosecution for actions they say were taken in his official role as president." (AP) 10/5/2023

"Judge Chutkan issues limited gag order for Trump in D.C. Jan. 6 case" “U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan said Monday she will impose a limited gag order on former president Donald Trump in advance of his election interference trial, as requested by prosecutors.
The gag order, she said in a ruling issued from the bench after a hearing, will prohibit all parties from statements “publicly targeting” special counsel Jack Smith, his staff, her staff or “any other court personnel.” Statements about the families of those individuals are “absolutely prohibited as well." (WaPo) 10/16/2023

"Trump seeks appeal of partial gag order in 2020 federal election case" “Lawyers for Donald Trump on Tuesday filed a notice to appeal a partial gag order in the case accusing the former U.S. President of illegally attempting to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election." (Reuters) 10/17/2023

"Trump files new challenges to federal election obstruction case in D.C." “Former president Donald Trump launched a multipronged legal attack late Monday on his federal prosecution for allegedly subverting the results of the 2020 election, saying his actions were protected by the First Amendment as political speech and arguing that he cannot be tried in criminal court for trying to block Joe Biden’s victory after being impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate." (WaPo) 10/24/2023

"Federal Judge Reinstates Gag Order on Trump in Election Case" “A federal judge reinstated a gag order on former President Donald J. Trump on Sunday that had been temporarily placed on hold nine days earlier, reimposing restrictions on what Mr. Trump can say about witnesses and prosecutors in the case in which he stands accused of seeking to overturn the 2020 election." (NYT) 10/29/2023

"Judge Rejects Trump Motion to Strike Jan. 6 Mentions From Federal Election Case" “The ruling by the judge, Tanya S. Chutkan, was an initial step toward allowing prosecutors in the case to introduce evidence at trial that members of the mob that stormed the Capitol that day believed they were acting at Mr. Trump’s instruction." (NYT) 11/17/2023

"Judge rejects Trump’s claim of immunity in his federal 2020 election prosecution" “Donald Trump is not immune from prosecution in his election interference case in Washington, a federal judge ruled Friday, knocking down the Republican’s bid to derail the case charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election." (AP) 12/1/2023

"Trump appeals Jan. 6 immunity ruling, launching process that may delay trial" “Donald Trump filed notice on Thursday saying he will appeal a D.C. judge’s ruling that he was not immune from being charged with federal crimes for his efforts to undo the outcome of the 2020 election, either by his former role as president or the Constitution’s rules for impeachment." (WaPo) 12/7/2023

"Appeals Court Upholds, but Narrows, Gag Order on Trump in Election Case" “A federal appeals court on Friday upheld the gag order imposed two months ago on former President Donald J. Trump in the criminal case accusing him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election, but narrowed its terms to allow him to keep attacking one of his main targets: Jack Smith, the special counsel overseeing his federal prosecutions." (NYT) 12/8/2023

"Supreme Court will consider fast-tracking Trump appeal in D.C. trial" “The Supreme Court said Monday it will consider special counsel Jack Smith’s request to fast-track consideration of Donald Trump’s claim he is immune from prosecution for alleged election obstruction in 2020 — intensifying the legal jockeying over whether Trump’s criminal trial in D.C. will stay on schedule for early next year." (WaPo) 12/11/2023

"How Jack Smith plans to use Trump's phone data in election case" “Special counsel Jack Smith plans to use former President Donald Trump's cellphone data as evidence in his federal election interference case. CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa reports." (CBS News) 12/13/2023

"Judge in Trump election case pauses court deadlines as appeal is heard on presidential immunity" “U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan agreed to pause any “further proceedings that would move this case towards trial or impose additional burdens of litigation on Defendant.” But the judge said that if the case returns to her court, she will “consider at that time whether to retain or continue the dates of any still-future deadlines and proceedings, including the trial scheduled for March 4, 2024.” (AP) 12/13/2023

"Supreme Court will hear a case that could undo Capitol riot charge against hundreds, including Trump" “The justices will review a charge of obstruction of an official proceeding that has been brought against more than 300 people. The charge refers to the disruption of Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory over Trump." (AP) 12/13/2023

"Judge Gives Prosecutors Access to G.O.P. Lawmaker’s Messages in Jan. 6 Case" “The roughly 1,700 messages are from the cellphone of Representative Scott Perry, who was involved in discussions with Trump administration officials about overturning the election." (NYT) 12/20/2023

"US Supreme Court won't rule on Trump's immunity claim in 2020 election case for now" “The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday declined to immediately decide former President Donald Trump's claim that he cannot be prosecuted for trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat, allowing a lower court to continue reviewing the issue." (NYT) 12/22/2023

"Trump Asks Appeals Court to Toss Election Case on Immunity Grounds" “Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump asked an appeals court in Washington on Saturday night to toss a federal indictment accusing him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election, arguing that he was immune to the charges because they arose from actions he had taken while he was in the White House." (NYT) 12/23/2023

"Trump’s lawyers want special counsel Jack Smith held in contempt in 2020 election interference case" “Lawyers for former President Donald Trump on Thursday pressed to have special counsel Jack Smith’s team held in contempt, saying the prosecutors had taken steps to advance the 2020 election interference case against him in violation of a judge’s order last month that temporarily put the case on hold." (AP) 1/4/2024

"Judge Declines to Hold Prosecutors in Contempt in Trump Election Case" “Judge Tanya S. Chutkan issued her order after prosecutors continued to file court papers in the former president’s election interference case even though she had put the proceeding on hold." (NYT) 1/18/2024

"Judge Scraps Trial Date for Trump Election Subversion Case" “Judge Tanya Chutkan removed the planned March 4 start from her calendar, formalizing a delay that had become increasingly likely in recent weeks. It remains unclear when the trial might start.
In her order, Judge Chutkan said that she would set a new date for the proceeding in Federal District Court in Washington “if and when” Mr. Trump’s immunity claims are resolved." (NYT) 2/2/2024

"Trump is not immune from prosecution in his 2020 election interference case, US appeals court says" “A federal appeals panel ruled Tuesday that Donald Trump can face trial on charges that he plotted to overturn the results of the 2020 election, rejecting the former president’s claims that he is immune from prosecution." (AP) 2/6/2024

"Trump asks Supreme Court to put off his election interference trial, claiming immunity" “Former President Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to extend the delay in his election interference trial, saying he is immune from prosecution on charges he plotted to overturn his 2020 election loss.
His lawyers filed an emergency appeal with the court on Monday, just four days after the justices heard Trump’s separate appeal to remain on the presidential ballot despite attempts to kick him off because of his efforts following his election loss in 2020." (AP) 2/12/2024

"Supreme Court Gives Prosecutors a Week to Respond in Trump Immunity Case" “The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave Jack Smith, the special counsel prosecuting former President Donald J. Trump, a week to respond to Mr. Trump’s emergency application asking the justices to halt an appeals court’s ruling that rejected his claim that he is absolutely immune from criminal charges." (NYT) 2/13/2024

"Special Counsel Asks Supreme Court to Move Quickly in Trump Immunity Case" “Jack Smith, the special counsel prosecuting former President Donald J. Trump on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 election, urged the Supreme Court on Wednesday to reject a request from Mr. Trump to put the case on hold while he pursues appeals.
"“Delay in the resolution of these charges threatens to frustrate the public interest in a speedy and fair verdict — a compelling interest in every criminal case and one that has unique national importance here, as it involves federal criminal charges against a former president for alleged criminal efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election, including through the use of official power,” Mr. Smith wrote."" (NYT) 2/14/2024

"Supreme Court, moving quickly, will decide if Trump can be prosecuted in election interference case" “The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to decide whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he interfered with the 2020 election and set a course for a quick resolution." (AP) 2/28/2024

"Prosecutors Ask Supreme Court to Reject Trump’s Immunity Claim in Election Case" “The absence of any prosecutions of former presidents until this case does not reflect the understanding that presidents are immune from criminal liability,” Mr. Smith wrote. “It instead underscores the unprecedented nature of petitioner’s alleged conduct." (NYT) 4/9/2024

"Supreme Court Says Prosecutors Overstepped With Jan. 6 Charge" “... It could also have an effect on part of the federal case against former President Donald J. Trump accusing him of plotting to overturn his 2020 loss at the polls. But the precise impact on those cases will not become clear until trial courts review them in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling." (NYT) 6/28/2024

"Justices give presidents immunity for official acts, further delaying Trump’s trial" “Donald Trump is immune from prosecution for official acts as president but can face trial for private conduct, a divided Supreme Court ruled Monday, declaring a broad new definition of White House power that may stand for generations and will further delay Trump’s election interference case in D.C." (WAPo) 7/1/2024

"Trump’s election subversion case returns to D.C. after immunity ruling" “A federal judge in Washington regained control over former president Donald Trump’s 2020 election obstruction case Friday under a deadline set by the Supreme Court when it ruled that presidents have broad immunity from prosecution." (WAPo) 8/2/2024

"Judge in Trump’s federal election subversion case rejects defense effort to dismiss the prosecution" “The federal judge presiding over the election subversion case against former President Donald Trump rejected Saturday a defense effort to dismiss the indictment on claims that he was prosecuted for vindictive and political purposes." (AP) 8/3/2024

"New Trump Jan. 6 indictment reflects Supreme Court immunity ruling" “Special counsel Jack Smith filed an updated indictment Tuesday against Donald Trump in a bid to salvage and strengthen the historic election obstruction case, following a Supreme Court ruling that granted broad immunity to presidents for official acts and sharply criticized the prosecutor’s approach." (AP) 8/27/2024

"Judge accuses Trump lawyers of trying to delay release of new evidence" “A U.S. judge on Thursday accused Donald Trump's lawyers of trying to stop potentially damaging evidence of his effort to overturn his 2020 election loss from becoming public before the Nov. 5 election, while acknowledging the case would not go to trial before then.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan also gave prosecutors what is likely their last chance to divulge evidence in the case before the election, ordering Special Counsel Jack Smith to respond by Sept. 26 to a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that former presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution." (Reuters) 9/5/2024

"Judge allows lengthy brief in Trump case, rejecting claim of election impact" “A federal judge on Tuesday granted prosecutors’ request to file an up-to-180-page legal brief this week arguing why Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election should not be immune from criminal prosecution, rejecting the former president’s claims that its timing was unfair or politically motivated with the election fast approaching.
U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan agreed with special counsel Jack Smith’s office, which argued that the extra-long briefing was necessary because the Supreme Court’s July ruling on presidential immunity required her as trial judge to decide what allegations and evidence against Trump could be admissible." (WaPo) 9/24/2024

"Judge Unseals New Evidence in Federal Election Case Against Trump" “In a sprawling legal brief partly unsealed on Wednesday, the special counsel, Jack Smith, laid out his case for why former President Donald J. Trump is not immune from prosecution on federal charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 election.
The redacted brief, made public by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan of the Federal District Court in Washington, adds new details to the already extensive public record of how Mr. Trump lost the race but attempted nonetheless to cling to power." (NYT) 10/2/2024

"Judge Releases Redacted Trove of Evidence in Trump Election Case" “A federal judge on Friday ordered the release of a heavily redacted trove of evidence supporting the contention by federal prosecutors that former President Donald J. Trump illegally sought to overturn the 2020 election." (NYT) 10/18/2024

"At Trump’s request, judge delays immunity filing in Jan. 6 prosecution" “A federal judge on Monday granted Donald Trump’s lawyers’ request to push back the deadline for filing their view of whether the former president is immune from prosecution in the 2020 election subversion case until two weeks after the presidential election." (WaPo) 10/28/2024

"Judge Grants Jack Smith’s Request for Pause in Jan. 6 Case After Trump’s Election" “The special counsel asked for time to assess how to proceed now that Donald Trump is returning the White House, triggering a Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president." (NYT) 11/8/2024

In Motion - Justice Department: Trump fundraising off false election claims

"Special counsel focuses on Trump fundraising off false election claims" “Federal prosecutors probing the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol have in recent weeks sought a wide range of documents related to fundraising after the 2020 election, looking to determine if former president Donald Trump or his advisers scammed donors by using false claims about voter fraud to raise money, eight people familiar with the new inquiries said." (WaPo) 4/12/2023

"Special counsel Jack Smith pulls subpoena over pro-Trump fundraising" “The withdrawal of the subpoena earlier this month indicates Smith is scaling back at least part of his inquiry into the political fundraising work that fed and benefited from unfounded claims that the election was stolen, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing criminal investigation." (WaPo) 10/17/2023

Indictment - Justice Department: Trump mishandling of classified documents -
Jump to latest headline ->

F.B.I. searches Mar-a-Lago based on probable cause of a crime “Former President Donald J. Trump said on Monday that the F.B.I. had searched his Palm Beach, Fla., home and had broken open a safe — an account signaling a major escalation in the various investigations into the final stages of his presidency. The search, according to multiple people familiar with the investigation, appeared to be focused on material that Mr. Trump had brought with him to Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence, when he left the White House. Those boxes contained many pages of classified documents, according to a person familiar with their contents." (NYT) 8/8/2022

Judge Keeps Block on Inquiry Into Mar-a-Lago Files and Names Special Master “A federal judge on Thursday rejected the Justice Department’s request to resume a key part of its inquiry into former President Donald J. Trump’s handling of sensitive government records and appointed an outside arbiter to review thousands of documents seized last month from his Florida residence." (NYT) 9/15/2022

Appeals court: Justice Dept. can use Mar-a-Lago documents in criminal probe “Federal appeals panel says Judge Aileen Cannon ‘abused’ her discretion in requiring outside review of seized classified documents." (NYT) 9/21/2022

"Garland names special counsel to lead Trump-related probes" “Attorney General Merrick Garland named a special counsel on Friday to oversee the Justice Department’s investigation into the presence of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate as well as key aspects of a separate probe involving the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and efforts to undo the 2020 election." (AP) 10/18/2022

"The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected former President Donald Trump’s plea to step into the legal fight over the FBI search of his Florida estate." “The Trump team was asking the justices to overturn a lower court ruling and permit an independent arbiter, or special master, to review the roughly 100 documents with classified markings that were taken in the Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago." (AP) 10/12/2022

"Appeals court strikes down special master in Trump Mar-a-Lago documents case" “A federal appeals court panel on Thursday halted an outside review of thousands of documents seized from former president Donald Trump’s Florida residence, ruling that a lower-court judge was wrong to appoint an expert to decide whether any of the material should be shielded from criminal investigators." (WaPo) 12/1/2022

"Classified Documents Found in Trump Search of Storage Site" “The discovery came as series of searches were conducted by a team hired by the former president, after a federal judge directed his lawyers to look for any materials still in his possession. When the Justice Department warned that it believed Mr. Trump still had documents in his possession, a lawyer whom he had hired a short time earlier, Christopher M. Kise, suggested along with other lawyers working for Mr. Trump that they engage an outside firm, according to people familiar with the events." (NYT) 12/7/2022

"Justice Department asks judge to hold Trump team in contempt over Mar-a-Lago case" “The request came after months of mounting frustration from the Justice Department with the former president’s lawyers." "Prosecutors have urged a federal judge to hold Donald Trump’s office in contempt of court for failing to fully comply with a May subpoena to return all classified documents in his possession, according to people familiar with the matter — a sign of how contentious the private talks have become over whether the former president still holds any secret papers."(WaPo) 12/8/2022

"Judge Declines to Act on Justice Dept. Contempt Request in Trump Documents Case" "A federal judge in Washington on Friday ended a hearing without acting on a Justice Department request to find representatives of Donald J. Trump’s post-presidential office in contempt of court for failing to comply fully with a subpoena demanding that he return all classified documents he had taken with him when he left office, two people familiar with the matter said." (NYT) 12/9/2022

"Prosecutors Seek Trump Lawyer’s Testimony, Suggesting Evidence of Crime" "The Justice Department cited the crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege in demanding testimony from a lawyer representing former President Donald Trump in his documents case." (NYT) 2/14/2023

"Judge rules Trump lawyer Corcoran must testify, people familiar say" "Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled there were grounds for a ‘crime-fraud exception’ to attorney-client privilege, the people said." (WaPo) 3/17/2023

"Trump lawyer must turn over evidence on classified documents, court rules" "A federal appeals court has ruled that a lawyer for Donald Trump must provide notes, transcripts and other evidence to prosecutors investigating how classified documents remained at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago home months after a subpoena to return all sensitive files, according to court records and people familiar with the matter." (WaPo) 3/22/2023

"Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran appears before Mar-a-Lago grand jury in D.C." "A key lawyer for Donald Trump appeared Friday before a federal grand jury investigating whether the former president sought to keep top-secret documents in his home — testimony that capped an ultimately losing effort by Trump’s legal team to prevent prosecutors from reviewing the lawyer’s notes and other documents in the case." (WaPo) 3/24/2023

"Justice Dept. said to have more evidence of possible Trump obstruction at Mar-a-Lago" "Justice Department and FBI investigators have amassed fresh evidence pointing to possible obstruction by former president Donald Trump in the investigation into top-secret documents found at his Mar-a-Lago home, according to people familiar with the matter." (WaPo) 4/2/2023

"Justice Dept. Intensifying Efforts to Determine if Trump Hid Documents" "Federal prosecutors investigating former President Donald J. Trump’s handling of classified documents have obtained the confidential cooperation of a person who has worked for him at Mar-a-Lago, part of an intensifying effort to determine whether Mr. Trump ordered boxes containing sensitive material moved out of a storage room there as the government sought to recover it last year, multiple people familiar with the inquiry said." (WaPo) 5/4/2023

"Mar-a-Lago Worker Provided Prosecutors New Details in Trump Documents Case" "A maintenance worker for the former president recounted helping to move boxes into a storage room a day before a Justice Department official came seeking the return of classified material." (NYT) 5/26/2023

"Prosecutors have tape of Trump discussing holding onto classified doc after leaving office" "Justice Department prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of former President Donald Trump from after he left office in which he talks about holding onto a classified Pentagon document related to a potential attack on Iran, according to media reports.
CNN, which first reported on the tape, said Trump suggested on the recording that he wanted to share information from the document with others but that he knew there were limitations about his ability to declassify records after he left office." (AP) 6/1/2023

"Florida grand jury involved in Trump documents probe by Justice Dept., AP source says" "Federal prosecutors are using a grand jury in Florida as part of their investigation into the possible mishandling of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach property, a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday night.
The grand jury is in addition to a separate panel that has been meeting in Washington for months to consider charges against Trump over the retention of hundreds of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and potential obstruction of the government’s efforts to reclaim the records." (AP) 6/7/2023

"Prosecutors Tell Trump’s Legal Team He Is a Target of Investigation" "Federal prosecutors have informed the legal team for former President Donald J. Trump that he is a target of their investigation into his handling of classified documents after he left office, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The notification to Mr. Trump’s team by prosecutors from the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith, was the clearest signal yet that the former president is likely to face charges in the investigation." (NYT) 6/7/2023

"Trump Indicted - Trump Is Charged in Classified Documents Inquiry" "Trump is the first former president in U.S. history to face federal charges.
The indictment, filed in Federal District Court in Miami, is the first time in American history a former president has faced federal charges. It puts the nation in an extraordinary position, given Mr. Trump’s status not only as a onetime chief executive but also as the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination to face President Biden, whose administration will now be seeking to convict his potential rival." (NYT) 6/8/2023

"Trump criminal indictment is unsealed, shows he faces 37 charges" "Former president Donald Trump faces 37 counts in connection with keeping hundreds of classified documents in his possession after leaving the White House. The bulk of the charges in the 49-page indictment, unsealed Friday afternoon, relate to willful retention of national defense information — a violation of the Espionage Act that pertains to whether individuals broke the rules for the handling of classified documents. The charges also include conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in an investigation, scheming to conceal, and false statements. Trump aide Walt Nauta also was charged. Trump has denied any wrongdoing." (WaPo) 6/9/2023

"Audio Undercuts Trump’s Assertion He Did Not Have Classified Document" "A recording of a meeting in 2021 in which the former president described a sensitive document in front of him appears to contradict his recent assertion that the material was just news clippings." (NYT) 6/27/2023

"Trump Lawyers Seek Indefinite Postponement of Documents Trial" "Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump asked a federal judge on Monday night to indefinitely postpone his trial on charges of illegally retaining classified documents after he left office, saying that the proceeding should not begin until all “substantive motions” in the case had been presented and decided." (NYT) 7/11/2023

"Prosecutors Push Back on Trump’s Request to Delay Documents Trial" "The office of the special counsel, Jack Smith, said there “is no basis in law or fact” for granting a motion from former President Donald J. Trump that could push the start of the trial until after Election Day." (NYT) 7/14/2023

"Judge Cannon schedules Trump’s classified documents trial for May 2024" "The federal judge presiding over Donald Trump’s indictment for allegedly mishandling classified documents has scheduled his trial to start in late May of next year, rejecting claims by the former president’s attorneys that a fair trial could only be held after the 2024 election, as well as the Justice Department’s request to start in December." (WaPo) 7/21/2023

"Trump charged with seeking to delete security footage in documents case" "Federal prosecutors announced new charges against Donald Trump in his alleged hoarding and hiding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home, alleging the former president and a newly-charged aide tried to keep security camera footage from being reviewed by investigators.
Trump was also hit with a fresh charge, in addition to the 31 counts he already faces, of illegally retaining national defense information." (WaPo) 7/27/2023

"Trump and Longtime Aide Plead Not Guilty to New Charges in Documents Case" "Former President Donald J. Trump and a longtime aide, Walt Nauta, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to additional criminal charges in the case accusing Mr. Trump of illegally holding on to secret national security documents after leaving office and conspiring to obstruct the government’s efforts to retrieve them." (NYT) 8/10/2023

"Witness in Trump Documents Case Changed Lawyers, and Then Testimony" "“On July 5, 2023, Trump Employee 4 informed Chief Judge Boasberg that he no longer wished to be represented by Mr. Woodward and that, going forward, he wished to be represented by the First Assistant Federal Defender,” the filing said, referring to Mr. Taveras. “Immediately after receiving new counsel, Trump Employee 4 retracted his prior false testimony and provided information that implicated Nauta, De Oliveira, and Trump in efforts to delete security camera footage, as set forth in the superseding indictment." (NYT) 8/22/2023

"Mar-a-Lago worker struck cooperation deal with prosecutors in Trump documents case, ex-lawyer says" "An information technology director at Mar-a-Lago struck a cooperation agreement with federal prosecutors last summer in their investigation of Donald Trump’s retention of classified documents at the former president’s Florida property, according to the worker’s ex-lawyer." (AP) 9/6/2023

"Trump Is Said to Have Told Aide Not to Acknowledge She Knew of Documents" "A former assistant to Donald J. Trump has informed investigators that the former president told her to say she did not know anything about the boxes containing classified documents that he had stashed at his private club in Florida after leaving the White House, according to a person briefed on her comments." (NYT) 9/19/2023

"Justice Dept. Accuses Trump Lawyers of Dragging Their Feet in Documents Case" "Federal prosecutors on Thursday accused former President Donald J. Trump’s lawyers of trying to employ an arcane law governing the use of classified material to “intentionally derail” the timing of his trial on charges of mishandling national security documents and obstructing efforts to retrieve them." (NYT) 9/28/2023

"Trump Said to Have Revealed Nuclear Submarine Secrets to Australian Businessman" "Shortly after he left office, former President Donald J. Trump shared apparently classified information about American nuclear submarines with an Australian businessman during an evening of conversation at Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence in Florida, according to two people familiar with the matter." (NYT) 10/5/2023

"Trump’s lawyers seek to postpone his classified documents trial until after the 2024 election" "Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have asked a judge to postpone his classified documents trial until after next year’s presidential election, saying they have not received all the records they need to review to prepare his defense." (AP) 10/5/2023

"Prosecutors push back on Trump bid to delay documents case until after the election" "Special counsel Jack Smith is pushing back against former President Donald Trump's bid to delay his trial on charges of mishandling classified information until after the 2024 election, saying there's no "credible justification" to do so." (NBC News) 10/9/2023

"Judge scolds prosecutors as she delays hearing for co-defendant in Trump classified documents case" "A judge on Thursday scolded federal prosecutors in the classified documents case against Donald Trump as she postponed a hearing to determine if the lawyer for one of the former president’s co-defendants had a conflict of interest.
I admonish the government for wasting the court’s time,” U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon told prosecutors, saying they had presented arguments during Thursday’s hearing that had not been properly raised in earlier court filings." (AP) 10/12/2023

"Trump co-defendant in classified records case says he wants to keep lawyer despite possible conflict" "Prosecutors maintain lawyer Stanley Woodward, who represents Trump valet Walt Nauta, has a conflict because he previously represented an information technology specialist who's expected to be a key government witness at trial and still represents another person who may be called to testify." (AP) 10/20/2023

"A judge declines for now to push back Trump’s classified documents trial but postpones other deadlines" "A federal judge in Florida on Friday declined to delay Donald Trump’s classified documents trial, calling a request by the former president’s defense lawyers to postpone the date “premature.” But she pushed back other deadlines in the case and signaled that she would revisit the trial date later." (AP) 11/10/2023

"In new filing, Trump lawyers foreshadow potential lines of defense in classified documents case" "Lawyers for former President Donald Trump foreshadowed elements of their defense in the criminal case charging him with illegally retaining classified documents, saying in a motion filed Tuesday that they will dispute prosecutors’ allegations that the estate where the records were stored was not secure."
"The defense team also said in a wide-ranging court filing that they are seeking communication between the Justice Department prosecution team and associates of President Joe Biden in hopes of advancing their claims that the classified documents case is “politically motivated” and designed to harm Trump’s 2024 campaign." (AP) 1/17/2024

"Trump’s lawyers call for dismissal of classified documents case, citing presidential immunity" "Former President Donald Trump urged a Florida judge to dismiss the criminal case charging him with illegally retaining classified documents, claiming in part that presidential immunity protects him from prosecution even as that sweeping argument has so far in failed in federal appeals courts in a separate case." (AP) 2/23/2024

"Judge rejects bid by Donald Trump to throw out classified documents case on constitutional grounds" "U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued a two-page order saying that though the Trump team had raised “various arguments warranting serious consideration,” a dismissal of charges was not merited. The case involves boxes of records, some highly classified, that Trump took to his Mar-a-Lago estate when he left the White House." (AP) 3/14/2024

"Trump special counsel fires back at Cannon order that could disrupt case" "Special counsel Jack Smith warned the judge overseeing Donald Trump’s classified documents case that she is pursuing a legal premise that “is wrong” and said he would probably appeal to a higher court if she rules that a federal records law can protect the former president from prosecution." (AP) 4/3/2024

"Judge Cannon shoots down Trump’s presidential records act claim" "U.S. District Court Judge Aileen M. Cannon on Thursday rejected Donald Trump’s bid to have his charges of mishandling classified documents dismissed on the grounds that a federal records law protected him from prosecution. The judge also defended her handling of the issue, which had frustrated prosecutors." (WaPo) 4/4/2024

"Judge Blocks Trump’s Lawyers From Naming Witnesses in Documents Case" "Granting a request by federal prosecutors, the judge overseeing former President Donald J. Trump’s classified documents case ordered his lawyers on Tuesday to redact the names of about two dozen government witnesses from a public version of one of their court filings to protect them against potential threats or harassment." (NYT) 4/9/2024

"Cannon denies dismissal motions by Trump co-defendants in documents case" "U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon on Thursday rejected requests from Donald Trump’s two co-defendants to dismiss the charges against them in the classified document case, ruling that federal prosecutors had met the legal threshold for the obstruction counts." (WaPo) 4/18/2024

"Judge indefinitely delays Trump’s classified documents trial in Florida" "Donald Trump’s Florida trial for allegedly mishandling classified documents and obstructing government efforts to retrieve them has been pushed back indefinitely, U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon ruled Tuesday, increasing the chance that Trump’s New York criminal trial may be the only one to happen before the November election." (WaPo) 5/7/2024

"Judge Reshuffles Hearings in Trump Documents Case" "The move by the judge, Aileen M. Cannon, was unlikely to have much impact on the overall trajectory of the case, but it reflected the substantial number of unresolved legal motions she is juggling. Last month, Judge Cannon scrapped the case’s trial date, saying she could not yet pick a new one because of what she described at the time as “the myriad and interconnected” questions she had still not managed to consider." (NYT) 6/5/2024

"Citing Supreme Court immunity ruling, Trump’s lawyers seek to freeze the classified documents case" "Trump’s lawyers told U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that the prosecution should be put on pause until she resolves pending defense motions that assert that Trump is immune from criminal charges in the case and that special counsel Jack Smith was illegally appointed by the Justice Department." (AP) 7/5/2024

"Judge Delays Some Deadlines in Trump Classified Documents Case" "A federal judge on Saturday postponed a few deadlines in former President Donald J. Trump’s classified documents case to allow prosecutors time to respond to his request for a broader pause in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling this week on executive immunity." (NYT) 7/6/2024

"Judge declines to throw out charges against Trump valet in classified documents case" "WASHINGTON -- The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case against Donald Trump refused Saturday to throw out charges against a co-defendant of the former president." (ABCNews) 7/6/2024

"Federal judge dismisses Trump classified documents case over concerns with prosecutor’s appointment" "A federal judge in Florida dismissed the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump on Monday, siding with defense lawyers who said the special counsel who filed the charges was illegally appointed by the Justice Department." (ABCNews) 7/15/2024

"Jack Smith appeals Judge Cannon decision to throw out Trump case" "Special counsel Jack Smith urged an appeals court Monday to reverse U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon’s dismissal of Donald Trump’s classified-documents case, arguing that Attorney General Merrick Garland had clear authority to appoint Smith to lead the prosecution." (WaPo) 8/26/2024

"A federal grand jury has issued subpoenas seeking information about Save America PAC, which was formed as Donald J. Trump promoted baseless assertions about election fraud."

“A federal grand jury investigating the activities leading up the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and the push by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the result of the 2020 election has expanded its probe to include seeking information about Trump's leadership PAC, Save America, sources with direct knowledge tell ABC News. (ABC News) 9/8/2022

Trump's lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and the FBI thown out. "... "
"lacks in substance and legal support it seeks to substitute with length, hyperbole, and the settling of scores and grievances,..."
"Judge Orders Trump and Lawyer to Pay Nearly $1 Million for Bogus Suit"

“A federal judge in Florida threw out former President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against Hillary Clinton over the 2016 election on Thursday, dismissing the ex-president’s allegations as “unsupported by any legal authority” after he accused Clinton and other Democratic officials of a “far-reaching conspiracy” aiming to take down his first presidential campaign." 9/9/2022

“Trump Lawyers Sanctioned for Filing ‘Frivolous’ Lawsuit Against Hillary Clinton. Federal judge fines lawyers for former president $50,000 for showing a ‘cavalier attitude towards facts’" - (WSJ) 11/10/2022

"Judge Orders Trump and Lawyer to Pay Nearly $1 Million for Bogus Suit" "In a scathing ruling, the judge said the suit against Hillary Clinton and dozens of the former president’s perceived political enemies was “brought in bad faith for an improper purpose.” - (NYT) 1/19/2023

"Donald Trump withdraws lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James" "Less than a day after receiving a warning from a federal judge, former President Donald Trump has withdrawn his lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James. The withdrawal came in a brief document filed Friday morning with U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks, who late Thursday warned Trump's legal team that the lawsuit appeared to verge on frivolous."
This comes the day after: "On Thursday, Middlebrooks ordered Trump and his attorney Alina Habba to pay fines of nearly $1 million after determining that Trump's 2022 lawsuit against Hillary Clinton was frivolous litigation meant only to "seek revenge". (ABCNews) 1/20/2023

"Judge throws out Trump lawsuit against New York Times" "Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the New York Times was tossed out by a New York Supreme Court judge on Wednesday, with the former president being ordered to pay all attorney’s fees, other legal expenses and associated costs." (WaPo) 5/4/2023

"Judge throws out Trump’s ‘big lie’ defamation lawsuit against CNN" "A federal judge on Friday dismissed Donald Trump’s lawsuit against CNN in which the former president said the network defamed him by associating him with Adolf Hitler.
CNN’s use of the phrase ‘the Big Lie’ in connection with Trump’s election challenges does not give rise to a plausible inference that Trump advocates the persecution and genocide of Jews or any other group of people,” the judge wrote. “No reasonable viewer could (or should) plausibly make that reference." (WaPo) 7/29/2023

"Trump ordered to pay New York Times $392,638 in legal fees for failed lawsuit" "A New York judge ordered Donald Trump to pay The New York Times $392,638 in legal fees Friday following the former president's failed lawsuit against the newspaper. New York Supreme Court Justice Robert Reed dismissed the case last year, clearing the way for the Times to recoup its fees." (ABCNews) 1/12/2024

"UK judge dismisses Trump’s lawsuit over dossier containing ‘shocking and scandalous claims’" " A judge in London on Thursday threw out a lawsuit by former U.S. President Donald Trump that accused a former British spy of making “shocking and scandalous claims” that were false and harmed his reputation.
Judge Karen Steyn said the case Trump filed against Orbis Business Intelligence should be dismissed. “There are no compelling reasons to allow the claim to proceed to trial,” she said." (ABCNews) 2/1/2024

"Trump pays $392k in legal fees to New York Times after failed lawsuit over disclosure of his tax documents" "Donald Trump has paid $392,000 to The New York Times to cover the legal costs from his failed lawsuit against the newspaper and its journalists over a 2018 investigation into his finances that included confidential tax records, a spokesman for the Times told CNN on Monday." (CNN Business) 2/26/2024

"Trump Revives Fight Over $937,989 Fine in Failed Clinton Suit" "Donald Trump is battling to reverse a $937,989 fine levied against him by a federal judge in Florida last year for bringing “frivolous” claims against Hillary Clinton — yet another effort by the former president to fight a string of costly courtroom losses.
US District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, imposed the penalty in January 2023 after concluding Trump was “using the courts as a stage set for political theater and grievance” by bringing the suit. The judge said “no reasonable lawyer would have filed it.”" (Bloomberg) 2/28/2024

"Trump Hit With UK Legal Bill After Losing Case" "Former US president Donald Trump will have to pay at least £300,000 ($382,000) in costs after losing a UK court action against a former spy who compiled a salacious dossier about him, according to a court order publicised Thursday." (Barrons) 3/7/2024

Overview: Trump attempts to overturn the 2020 election

“By the numbers: President Donald Trump's failed efforts to overturn the election" - Trump and allies filed scores of lawsuits, tried to convince state legislatures to take action, organized protests and held hearings.. None of it worked. (USA Today) 1/6/2021

"By the numbers:"
1. Lawsuits: 62 lawsuits, lost 61, 1: "Pennsylvania judge ruled voters had 3 days after the election to provide proper ID and "cure" their ballots."
2. Recounts: 3"Votes Trump gained from recounts: 2,343"
3. Supreme Court losses: 2, wins: 0

“Here is a guide to the increasingly radical strategies attempted by Trump and his allies to reverse Joe Biden’s victory, beginning right after the election and persisting after the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol." - (USA Today)

Efforts

1. "Pressure to prevent certification" - In motion
2. "Efforts to create alternate slates of electors" - In motion
3. "The chase for possible fraud or machine manipulation" - In motion
4. "Attempt to weaponize the Justice Department" - In motion
5. "Pressure on the vice president" - In motion
6. "The effort to harness public pressure — ending in violence" - In motion
7. "Attempts to deploy the national security establishment" - In motion

“Pence says Trump ‘endangered my family’ on Jan. 6"
'President Trump was wrong,' ”Pence said during remarks at the annual white-tie Gridiron Dinner attended by politicians and journalists.“ 'I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.' (AP) 3/12/2023

House committee investigation into Trump's role in inciting the Jan 6 Insurrection

“A House committee investigating the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol — aided by more than a dozen former federal prosecutors — is examining the role Mr. Trump and his allies may have played in his efforts to hold onto power after his electoral defeat in November 2020." (NYT) 2/24/2022

“Judge Says Trump Signed Statement With Data His Lawyers Told Him Was False"
“The emails show that President Trump knew that the specific numbers of voter fraud were wrong but continued to tout those numbers, both in court and to the public," Judge Carter wrote. Judge Carter found four emails that “demonstrate an effort by President Trump and his attorneys to press false claims in federal court for the purpose of delaying the Jan. 6 vote.” “This email,” Judge Carter wrote, “read in context with other documents in this review, make clear that President Trump filed certain lawsuits not to obtain legal relief, but to disrupt or delay the Jan. 6 congressional proceedings through the courts.” (NYT) 10/19/2022

“The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack issued a subpoena on Friday to Donald J. Trump, paving the way for a potentially historic court fight over whether Congress can compel testimony from a former president.” (NYT) 10/21/2022

“The House Select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol recommended on Monday that the Justice Department pursue charges against Donald Trump for his role in attempting to overturn the results of 2020 presidential election. The vote marked the first time Congress has made this kind of referral for a former president." (WaPo) 12/19/2022

Criminal referrals

1. Inciting or assisting an insurrection.
2. Obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress.
3. Conspiracy to defraud the United States .
4. Conspiracy to make a false statement.

“Trump White House official Navarro convicted of contempt after defying House Jan. 6 subpoena" "Trump White House official Peter Navarro was convicted Thursday of contempt of Congress charges filed after he was accused of refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol..” (AP) 9/7/2023

“Trump White House official Peter Navarro loses his bid for a new contempt of Congress trial" "A federal judge on Tuesday rejected a bid for a new trial for Peter Navarro, a Trump White House official convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack.” (AP) 1/16/2024

“Trump White House official Peter Navarro gets 4-month sentence for defying House Jan. 6 subpoena" "Trump White House official Peter Navarro, who was convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, was sentenced on Thursday to four months behind bars.” (AP) 1/25/2024

“Supreme Court chief justice denies ex-Trump aide Peter Navarro’s bid to stave off prison sentence" "The Supreme Court on Monday refused to halt a prison sentence for former Trump White House official Peter Navarro as he appeals his contempt of Congress conviction.” (AP) 3/18/2024

Indictment - Georgia Criminal Inquiry: Investigation into Trump's efforts to disrupt 2020 election - Jump to latest headline ->

A criminal investigation from the Fulton County, Ga., district attorney’s office is examining whether Trump officials disrupted the 2020 election in the county. The Fulton County has requested a grand jury for the investigation.

“Mr. Trump himself is also under scrutiny in Georgia, where Fani T. Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County, has been investigating whether the former president and others criminally interfered with the 2020 presidential election." (NYT) 2/24/2022

“Special Grand Jury in Georgia Trump Inquiry Concludes Its Investigation" "A hearing will be held to determine whether the report will be made public. Any criminal charges would have to be brought by a regular grand jury." (NYT) 1/9/2023

“Atlanta D.A. Wants Grand Jury Findings Kept Private in Trump Inquiry" "Fani T. Willis, the local prosecutor overseeing the investigation into efforts by former President Donald J. Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia, asked a judge in Atlanta on Tuesday not to make public the findings of a special grand jury that heard months of testimony in the case, saying that she was “mindful of protecting future defendants’ rights." (NYT) 1/24/2023

“Judge to release parts of Georgia special grand jury report" "The report’s introduction and conclusion, as well as a section in which the grand jurors expressed concerns that some witnesses may have lied under oath, will be released on Thursday, said Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney." (AP) 2/13/2023

“Trump election probe grand jury believes some witnesses lied" "A special grand jury investigating efforts by then-President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia says it believes “one or more witnesses” committed perjury and urged local prosecutors to bring charges." (AP) 2/16/2023

“Georgia grand jury heard another Trump call recording" "A special grand jury that investigated whether Donald Trump and his allies illegally meddled in the 2020 election in Georgia heard a recording of the former president pushing a top state lawmaker to call a special session to overturn his loss in the state, according to a newspaper report." (AP) 3/16/2023

“Georgia judge orders prosecutors to reply to Trump challenge" "A Georgia judge on Monday ordered the Fulton County district attorney’s office to respond to a motion by former President Donald Trump to throw out a report by a special grand jury that investigated attempts to interfere in the state’s 2020 presidential election." (AP) 3/27/2023

“Most Fake Trump Electors Have Taken Immunity Deals in Georgia Case" "More than half of the bogus Georgia electors who were convened in December 2020 to try to keep former President Donald J. Trump in power have taken immunity deals in the investigation into election interference there, according to a court filing on Friday and people with knowledge of the inquiry." (NYT) 5/5/2023

“A grand jury sworn in Tuesday could decide whether Trump is charged over Georgia’s 2020 election" "A grand jury that was sworn in Tuesday in Atlanta will likely consider whether criminal charges are appropriate for former President Donald Trump or his Republican allies for their efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia." (AP) 7/11/2023

“Trump asks top Georgia court to disqualify election probe prosecutor and toss grand jury report" "Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are asking Georgia’s highest court to prevent the district attorney who has been investigating his actions in the wake of the 2020 election from prosecuting him and to throw out a special grand jury report that is part of the inquiry." (AP) 7/14/2023

“Georgia’s top court rejects Trump attempt to thwart prosecutor in 2020 election investigation" "Georgia’s highest court Monday rejected a request by former President Donald Trump to block a district attorney from prosecuting him for his actions in wake of the 2020 election." (AP) 7/17/2023

“Judge Rejects Trump’s Effort to Short-Circuit Georgia Election Case" "A Fulton County judge said the former president had no standing to challenge the investigation before indictments were handed up, and chided Mr. Trump’s lawyers for 'unnecessary and unfounded legal filings'." (NYT) 7/31/2023

“Trump Indicted in Georgia - Ex-President Accused of Leading Push to Overturn 2020 Vote" "Former President Donald J. Trump and 18 others have been indicted by an Atlanta grand jury in a sweeping racketeering case, accusing Mr. Trump and some of his former top aides of orchestrating a “criminal enterprise” to reverse the results of the 2020 election in Georgia." (NYT) 8/15/2023

“Trump Plans to Release 100-Page Report on Georgia Election Fraud Claims" "A Large, Complex, Detailed but irrefutable REPORT on the Presidential Election Fraud which took place in Georgia is almost complete and will be presented by me at a major News Conference at 11:00 A.M. on Monday of next week in Bedminster, New Jersey,” Mr. Trump wrote on his social media site, Truth Social, just before 9 a.m" (NYT) 8/15/2023

“Trump cancels news conference to release report on 2020 election" "Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he had canceled a press conference scheduled for next week to release a report into the 2020 election in Georgia, saying his attorneys would put his arguments in court filings instead." (Reuters) 8/17/2023

“Judge approves $200,000 bond for Trump in Georgia election case" "An Atlanta-area judge approved on Monday a $200,000 bond for former president Donald Trump, who is expected to surrender later this week on charges that he and 18 allies illegally conspired to try to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia.
The bond agreement — known as a consent bond order — sets strict rules for Trump’s release. Trump is not allowed to communicate with witnesses or co-defendants about the case, except through his lawyers, and he is barred from intimidating witnesses or co-defendants. He is also forbidden from making any “direct or indirect threat of any nature against the community or to any property in the community,” including in “posts on social media or reposts of posts” by others on social media." (WaPo) 8/21/2023

“Trump surrenders at Fulton County Jail for his first mug shot" "Donald Trump surrendered at an Atlanta jail on Thursday and was booked on felony charges alleging he participated in a sweeping criminal conspiracy to illegally overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia — an unprecedented moment resulting in the first mug shot of a former American president." (WaPo) 8/24/2023

“Trump enters not-guilty plea in Georgia election case, waives hearing" "Donald Trump entered a plea of not guilty to charges alleging he participated in a vast criminal conspiracy to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia, and he waived his right to an in-person arraignment hearing in the matter, according to a court filing from his attorney in the Fulton County election interference case." (WaPo) 8/31/2023

“Georgia Panel Recommended Charging Dozens, Including Lindsey Graham, in Trump Case" "A special grand jury that investigated election interference allegations in Georgia last year recommended indicting more than twice as many Trump allies as prosecutors eventually sought to charge, including Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the former senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, and Michael Flynn, a former national security adviser." (NYT) 9/8/2023

“Judge denies Mark Meadows’s effort to move Georgia case to federal court" "A federal judge denied a request Friday from former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to move the Georgia election-interference case against him from state to federal court, a shift he had sought on the grounds that he was a federal officer at the time of the actions that led to his indictment." (NYT) 9/8/2023

“Trump won’t be tried with Powell and Chesebro next month in the Georgia election case, a judge rules" "Donald Trump will not face trial next month in Georgia after a judge ruled Thursday that the former president and 16 others accused of illegally trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election will be tried separately from two other defendants in the case." (AP) 9/14/2023

“Trump won't try to move Georgia case to federal court after judge rejected similar bid by Meadows" "Former President Donald Trump will not seek to get his Georgia election interference case transferred to state court, his attorneys said in a filing Thursday, three weeks after a judge rejected a similar attempt by the former president’s White House chief of staff." (AP) 9/28/2023

“Trump Co-Defendant in Georgia Election Interference Case Pleads Guilty" "The guilty plea of Scott Hall, 59, a Georgia bail bondsman, was a significant victory for Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis, who secured an agreement from Mr. Hall to testify against other defendants. As of Friday afternoon, no other defendants have taken pleas; two of them, the lawyers Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, are scheduled to be tried together starting next month after demanding speedy trials." (NYT) 9/29/2023

“Sidney Powell Pleads Guilty in Georgia Trump Case" "Ms. Powell, a member of the Trump legal team in 2020, will cooperate with prosecutors seeking to convict the former president on charges related to his efforts to overturn his election loss in Georgia.
Sidney K. Powell, a member of Donald J. Trump’s legal team after he lost the 2020 election, pleaded guilty on Thursday morning to six misdemeanor counts instead of facing a criminal trial that was to begin next week. She was among 19 defendants, including Mr. Trump, who were indicted in August for their efforts to subvert the election results in Georgia." (NYT) 10/19/2023

“Trump co-defendant Kenneth Chesebro pleads guilty in Georgia election case" "Kenneth Chesebro, a former lawyer for Donald Trump’s campaign, pleaded guilty Friday to illegally conspiring to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. The plea came in just hours after jury selection began in the highly anticipated case, ahead of an expected trial next month.
Chesebro pleaded guilty to a single felony count of conspiracy to file false documents, and faces a prison sentence of one to five years. He also agreed to truthfully testify in the case against others." (WaPo) 10/20/2023

“Trump co-defendant Jenna Ellis pleads guilty in Georgia election case" "Jenna Ellis, a former lawyer for Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign, pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegally conspiring to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia, making her the third attorney associated with the former president to accept a plea deal in the sweeping criminal racketeering case." (WaPo) 10/24/2023

“Alabama man charged with making threats against Georgia prosecutor, sheriff over Trump election case" "In a message for Willis, Hanson is alleged to have warned her to watch out, that she won’t always have people around who can protect her, that there would be moments when she would be vulnerable. “When you charge Trump on that fourth indictment, anytime you’re alone, be looking over your shoulder,” he said, among other things, according to the indictment." (AP) 10/30/2023

“Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows sued by book publisher for breach of contract" "Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows is being sued by his publisher for contradicting his book's claim about the the 2020 election.
All Seasons Press alleges that sworn testimony by Meadows undermined “The Chief's Chief,” in which he wrote that the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump." (AP) 11/6/2023

“Georgia prosecutor in Trump election case proposes Aug. 5 trial date" "The request, made to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, notes that two criminal cases against Trump in federal court are scheduled for March and May, respectively, so an August start date in the Georgia case is 'unlikely to be subject to delay or interference from these other trials.'" (WaPo) 11/17/2023

“Appeals court says Mark Meadows can’t move Georgia election case charges to federal court" "A federal appeals court on Monday ruled that former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows cannot move charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia to federal court." (AP) 12/18/2023

“Filing in Georgia Trump Case Claims ‘Improper’ Relationship Between Prosecutors" "A defendant in the election interference case is arguing that the district attorney overseeing it and a special prosecutor she hired should be disqualified. The filing, from a lawyer representing Michael A. Roman, a former Trump campaign official, provided no proof of the relationship or other claims it contained. It argued that the relationship should disqualify Ms. Willis, her office and the special prosecutor, Nathan Wade, from prosecuting the case." (NYT) 1/9/2024

“Georgia judge sets a hearing on misconduct allegations against Fani Willis in Trump election case" "The judge presiding over the Georgia prosecution of former President Donald Trump and others for efforts to overturn the 2020 election has set a hearing on a motion alleging Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been romantically involved with a special prosecutor she hired for the case." (AP) 1/18/2024

“Judge Unseals Records in Divorce Case That Has Entangled Trump Prosecutors" "A Georgia judge unsealed a divorce case on Monday that has entangled the Atlanta district attorney prosecuting former President Donald J. Trump, but halted plans to force the testimony of the prosecutor, Fani T. Willis." (NYT) 1/22/2024

“Fani Willis misconduct allegations hearing resumes in Trump Georgia case" "The second day of a Georgia court hearing focused on Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis’s romantic relationship with the prosecutor she hired to lead her case against former president Donald Trump is underway Friday." (WaPo) 2/16/2024

“Mark Meadows is denied fresh hearing in Georgia election interference case" "A federal appeals panel on Wednesday denied former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows’s request for a new hearing on whether to move the Georgia election interference case against him from state to federal court, a shift he had sought on the grounds that he was a federal officer at the time of the actions that led to his indictment." (WaPo) 2/28/2024

“Texts show prosecutor’s ex-law partner gave info for effort to remove Fani Willis from election case" "...But when he took the stand to testify under oath in mid-February, Bradley initially refused to answer most questions, asserting attorney-client privilege. On Tuesday, when the judge compelled him to testify after determining some of his communications with Wade weren’t privileged, he repeatedly said he didn’t know or couldn’t remember crucial details." (AP) 2/29/2024

“Judge dismisses some charges against Trump in the Georgia 2020 election interference case" "The judge overseeing the Georgia 2020 election interference case on Wednesday dismissed some of the charges against former President Donald Trump and others, but the rest of the sweeping racketeering indictment remains intact." (AP) 3/13/2024

“Fulton County DA Fani Willis must step aside or remove special prosecutor in Trump case, judge says" "Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must step aside from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump or remove the special prosecutor with whom she had a romantic relationship before the case can proceed, the judge overseeing it ruled Friday." (AP) 3/14/2024

“Fani Willis can stay on Trump Georgia case, judge rules, as Wade resigns" "The judge overseeing the Georgia election interference case against former president Donald Trump and his allies ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis (D) may continue with the prosecution but only if Nathan Wade, the lead prosecutor she appointed and had a romantic relationship with, exited the case. Hours later, Wade resigned, citing his commitment to “democracy” and making sure the case moves forward “as quickly as possible." (WaPo) 3/14/2024

“Judge clears way for Trump to appeal ruling keeping Fani Willis on Georgia 2020 election case" "Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee’s ruling means defense attorneys can ask the Georgia Court of Appeals to review the judge’s decision not to disqualify Willis or dismiss the indictment over her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. It will be up to the appeals court to decide whether to hear the matter." (AP) 3/20/2024

“Judge rejects Trump free speech challenge to Georgia 2020 election case" "Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee found that the indictment alleges statements by Trump and 14 others charged in the case were made "in furtherance of criminal activity" and are not protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution." (Reuters) 4/4/2024

“Georgia appeals court agrees to review ruling allowing Fani Willis to stay on Trump election case" "A Georgia appeals court on Wednesday agreed to review a lower court ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue to prosecute the election interference case she brought against former President Donald Trump." (AP) 5/8/2024

“Arguments in Trump’s Georgia appeal set for October, likely delaying trial" "Oral arguments in former president Donald Trump’s appeal of a decision to allow an Atlanta area district attorney to continue prosecuting an election interference case against him is now scheduled for Oct. 4, virtually ensuring that a trial will not begin before the presidential election a month later." (WaPo) 6/3/2024

“Georgia Appeals Court Stays Most Proceedings in Trump Election Case" "The Georgia Court of Appeals on Wednesday stayed the criminal election interference case against former President Donald J. Trump until an appellate panel could resolve the matter of whether the district attorney in Fulton County should be disqualified from prosecuting the case based on a conflict of interest." (NYT) 6/5/2024

“Georgia judge dismisses two criminal counts against Trump, court filing shows" "A Georgia judge on Thursday dismissed two criminal counts in the U.S. state's 2020 election interference case against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and one other count against allies of the former president. Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee found that state prosecutors did not have the authority to bring those charges, which related to the alleged filing of false documents in federal court. McAfee allowed the remainder of the case to move forward, including eight charges against Trump. Trump and 14 co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to racketeering and other charges stemming from what prosecutors allege was a scheme to overturn Trump's narrow defeat in Georgia in the 2020 election." (Reuters) 9/12/2024

“Georgia Prosecutor Seeks to Reinstate Quashed Charges in Trump Elections Case" "The prosecutor overseeing the election interference case against Donald J. Trump in Georgia has asked an appeals court to restore six charges that a judge had dismissed in the case, including one related to a call that Mr. Trump made to Georgia’s secretary of state in January 2021." (NYT) 10/16/2024

In Motion - Fake electors, overturn election

"Michigan Charges 16 in False Elector Scheme to Overturn Trump’s 2020 Loss"
"The Michigan attorney general announced felony charges on Tuesday against 16 people in a case involving Trump supporters’ attempt to overturn the state’s 2020 election results by convening a false slate of Electoral College electors.
Each of the 16 defendants has been charged with eight felony counts, including forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery, for allegedly signing documents attesting falsely that they were Michigan’s “duly elected and qualified electors” for president and vice president." (NYT) 7/18/2023

"Pro-Trump electors indicted in Nevada, the third state to issue charges"
"A Nevada grand jury has charged six Republicans who claimed to be presidential electors in 2020 and submitted certificates to Congress falsely asserting that former president Donald Trump had won the election in their state." (WaPo) 12/6/2023

"Fake Donald Trump electors settle civil lawsuit in Wisconsin, agree that President Biden won"
"Ten Republicans who posed as fake electors for former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin and filed paperwork falsely saying he had won the battleground state have settled a civil lawsuit and admitted their actions were part of an effort to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory, attorneys who filed the case announced Wednesday." (AP) 12/6/2023

"Arizona Charges Giuliani and Other Trump Allies in Election Interference Case"
"Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and a number of others who advised Donald J. Trump during the 2020 election were indicted in Arizona on Wednesday, along with all of the fake electors who acted on Mr. Trump’s behalf there to try to keep him in power despite his loss in the state." (NYT) 4/24/2024

"Wisconsin charges Trump allies in 2020 fake electors scheme."
"Kenneth Chesebro, an architect of the Trump campaign’s plans to impanel slates of bogus electors in several states that Mr. Trump lost, was named as a defendant in the action by Wisconsin’s attorney general, Josh Kaul, a Democrat." (NYT) 6/4/2024

In Motion - Other Jan6 legal actions; Civil lawsuits against Trump, 14th Amendment, .etc;

1. The NAACP has filed a lawsuit against Trump for allegedly interfering with the 2020 election in violation of the Voting Rights Act and the Ku Klux Klan Act. The NAACP recently won a victory over the winter and the lawsuit, which 10 members of Congress have signed on to, is moving forward.
2. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) is suing Trump in a separate lawsuit over the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
3. U.S. Capitol Police officers filed three separate lawsuits against Trump for allegedly inciting the Jan. 6 rioting, which injured more than 100 officers. Four officers committed suicide afterward and one died from a stroke shortly after.
4. Two officers from Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department also filed a lawsuit against Trump, seeking compensation for physical and emotional damages.
5. D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine (D) said his probe into those who incited Jan. 6 could result in charges against Trump.
6. Trump Is Sued in Death of Capitol Police Officer After Jan. 6 The suit in the death of Brian D. Sicknick seeks millions in damages from the former president, whom it paints as responsible for the violence that day, and two Capitol rioters. (NYT) 1/6/2023

"Lawsuit Against Trump Over Capitol Attack Should Proceed, Justice Dept. Says"
"The Justice Department told a federal court that it should allow a lawsuit to proceed against former President Donald J. Trump by members of Congress and Capitol Police officers over the attack by his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, after he delivered a fiery speech falsely claiming that the 2020 election had been stolen from him." (WaPo) 3/2/2023

"Judge Rejects Trump’s Effort to Delay Jan. 6 Civil Cases"
"A federal judge on Thursday rejected former President Donald J. Trump’s attempt to delay a group of civil lawsuits that are seeking to hold him accountable for inspiring the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021." (NYT) 4/18/2023

"Michigan prosecutors charge Trump allies in felonies involving voting machines, illegal ‘testing’"
"A former Republican attorney general candidate and another supporter of former President Donald Trump have been criminally charged in Michigan in connection with accessing and tampering with voting machines after the 2020 election, according to court records." (AP) 8/1/2023

"Supreme Court rejects appeal from Trump-allied lawyers over 2020 election lawsuit in Michigan"
"The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal from Sidney Powell and other lawyers allied with former President Donald Trump over $150,000 in sanctions they were ordered to pay for abusing the court system with a sham lawsuit challenging the 2020 election results in Michigan." (AP) 2/20/2024

"Mike Lindell must pay man $5M in ‘Prove Mike Wrong’ challenge, judge says"
"In 2021, MyPillow founder Mike Lindell offered $5 million to anyone who could disprove his claim that he had data showing voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
Now, he must pay a 64-year-old from Nevada that award, a federal judge ruled Wednesday." (WaPo) 2/22/2024

"Wisconsin ethics commission refers Trump fundraising arm for prosecution"
"Bipartisan ethics regulators in Wisconsin have recommended felony charges against one of Donald Trump’s fundraising arms and other Republicans in a scheme that they say was meant to circumvent campaign finance laws to take out a powerful GOP lawmaker who has turned against Trump." (WaPo) 2/23/2024

"Pro-Trump Michigan attorney arrested after hearing in DC over leaking Dominion documents"
"Stefanie Lambert was arrested by U.S. Marshals after a hearing over possible sanctions against her for disseminating confidential emails from Dominion Voting Systems, the target of conspiracy theories over former President Donald Trump's 2020 election loss. Lambert obtained the Dominion emails by representing Patrick Byrne, a prominent funder of election conspiracy theorists who is being sued by Dominion for defamation." (AP) 3/18/2024

"Prosecutors in 3 Wisconsin counties decline to pursue charges against Trump committee, lawmaker"
"Prosecutors in three Wisconsin counties declined to pursue felony charges of campaign finance violations against former President Donald Trump's fundraising committee and a Republican state lawmaker related to an effort to unseat Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.
The prosecutors cited conflicts of interest, in some cases because they too are actively involved in their local Republican parties." (AP) 3/22/2024

"2 Men Fined $1.25 Million for Robocall Scheme to Suppress Black Vote"
"Two right-wing political operatives who used a robocall campaign to try to discourage Black New Yorkers from voting in the 2020 election will pay up to $1.25 million for their actions, the New York State attorney general’s office announced on Tuesday." (NYT) 4/9/2024

"Investigator says Trump, allies were uncharged co-conspirators in plot to overturn Michigan election"
"A state investigator testified Wednesday that he considers former President Donald Trump and his White House chief of staff to be uncharged co-conspirators in a scheme to claim that he won Michigan in the 2020 election, despite Democrat Joe Biden’s clear victory." (AP) 4/24/2024

"Supreme Court rejects appeal from Trump-allied lawyers over 2020 election lawsuit in Michigan"
"The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal from Sidney Powell and other lawyers allied with former President Donald Trump over $150,000 in sanctions they were ordered to pay for abusing the court system with a sham lawsuit challenging the 2020 election results in Michigan." (AP) 2/20/2024

"Wisconsin ethics commission refers Trump fundraising arm for prosecution"
"Bipartisan ethics regulators in Wisconsin have recommended felony charges against one of Donald Trump’s fundraising arms and other Republicans in a scheme that they say was meant to circumvent campaign finance laws to take out a powerful GOP lawmaker who has turned against Trump." (WaPo) 2/23/2024

"Investigator says Trump, allies were uncharged co-conspirators in plot to overturn Michigan election"
"A state investigator testified Wednesday that he considers former President Donald Trump and his White House chief of staff to be uncharged co-conspirators in a scheme to claim that he won Michigan in the 2020 election, despite Democrat Joe Biden’s clear victory." (AP) 4/24/2024

"Central Park Five sues Donald Trump for jogger case remarks made at presidential debate"
"The men formerly known as the Central Park Five before they were exonerated on Monday filed a defamation lawsuit against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
With election day two weeks away, the group accused the former president of making “false and defamatory statements” about them during last month’s presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. The group is asking for a jury trial to determine compensatory and punitive damages." (AP) 10/21/2024

14th Amendment Lawsuits

"Colorado Lawsuit Seeks to Keep Trump Off Ballots Under 14th Amendment"
"The amendment says anyone who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the Constitution after taking an oath to defend it is ineligible to hold office, and a long-shot effort to employ it is growing." (AP) 9/6/2023

"Judge overseeing case to remove Trump from ballot agrees to order banning threats and intimidation"
"The Colorado judge overseeing the first significant lawsuit to bar former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 presidential ballot on Friday issued a protective order prohibiting threats and intimidation in the case, saying the safety of those involved — including herself and her staff — was necessary as the groundbreaking litigation moves forward." (AP) 9/22/2023

"Colorado judge strikes down Trump's attempt to toss a lawsuit seeking to bar him from the ballot"
"A Colorado judge has rejected an attempt by former President Donald Trump to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to keep him off the state ballot, ruling that his objections on free-speech grounds did not apply." (AP) 10/13/2023

"Another suit to disqualify Trump under the Constitution’s ‘insurrection’ clause is filed in Michigan"
"A liberal group on Friday filed a lawsuit in Michigan contending that former president Donald Trump is disqualified from regaining his old job based on a rarely used, post-Civil War provision in the U.S. Constitution." (AP) 9/29/2023

"Court fights to prevent Trump from running again for the White House turn to Minnesota"
"Efforts to use the Constitution’s “insurrection” clause to prevent former President Donald Trump from running again for the White House turn to Minnesota on Thursday with oral arguments before the state Supreme Court, a hearing that will unfold as a similar case plays out in Colorado." (AP) 11/2/2023

"Trump can appear on 2024 primary ballot in Minnesota, state Supreme Court rules"
"The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that former president Donald Trump can appear on the primary ballot next year but left open the possibility he could be struck from the general election ballot because of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol." (WaPo) 11/8/2023

"Michigan judge says Trump can stay on primary ballot, rejecting challenge under insurrection clause"
"A Michigan judge ruled Tuesday that former President Donald Trump will remain on the state’s primary ballot, dealing a blow to the effort to stop Trump’s candidacy with a Civil War-era Constitutional clause." (AP) 11/15/2023

"Colorado judge finds Trump engaged in insurrection, but rejects constitutional ballot challenge"
"A Colorado judge on Friday found that former President Donald Trump engaged in insurrection during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol but rejected an effort to keep him off the state’s primary ballot because it’s unclear whether a Civil War-era Constitutional amendment barring insurrectionists from public office applies to the presidency." (AP) 11/17/2023

"Trump disqualified from Colorado’s 2024 primary ballot by state Supreme Court"
"In a historic decision Tuesday, the Colorado Supreme Court barred Donald Trump from running in the state’s presidential primary after determining that he had engaged in insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021." (WaPo) 12/19/2023

"Michigan Supreme Court Decides Trump Can Stay on Ballot"
"The state’s top court upheld an appeals court decision that found that the former president could appear on the ballot despite questions about his eligibility to hold elected office because of his attempts to overturn the 2020 election." (NYT) 12/27/2023

"Maine Joins Colorado in Finding Trump Ineligible for Primary Ballot"
"Maine on Thursday became the second state to bar Donald J. Trump from its primary election ballot after its top election official ruled that the former president’s efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election rendered him ineligible to hold office again." (NYT) 12/27/2023

"Trump asks US Supreme Court to review Colorado ruling barring him from the ballot over Jan. 6 attack"
"Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling barring him from the Colorado ballot, setting up a high-stakes showdown over whether a constitutional provision prohibiting those who “engaged in insurrection” will end his political career." (AP) 1/3/2024

"The Supreme Court will decide if Trump can be kept off 2024 presidential ballots"
"The Supreme Court said Friday it will decide whether former President Donald Trump can be kept off the ballot because of his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, inserting the court squarely in the 2024 presidential campaign." (AP) 1/5/2024

"Live Updates | Supreme Court hears oral arguments on Trump ballot case"
"The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments over whether former President Donald Trump is ineligible to be president again and can be kept off the ballot. The court convened at 10 a.m. Eastern." (AP) 2/8/2024

"Illinois judge removes Trump from primary ballot"
"An Illinois judge ruled Wednesday that former president Donald Trump should be removed from the state’s primary ballot because of the 14th Amendment ban on insurrectionists holding office." (WaPo) 2/29/2024

"Supreme Court restores Trump to ballot, rejecting state attempts to ban him over Capitol attack"
"The Supreme Court on Monday restored Donald Trump to 2024 presidential primary ballots, rejecting state attempts to hold the Republican former president accountable for the Capitol riot. The justices ruled a day before the Super Tuesday primaries that states, without action from Congress first, cannot invoke a post-Civil War constitutional provision to keep presidential candidates from appearing on ballots." (AP) 3/4/2024

Settled - Dominion's defamation lawsuit against Fox "News" (Fox pays $787.5 million).

"Fox hosts didn’t believe 2020 election fraud claims"
"Hosts at Fox News had serious concerns about allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election being made by guests who were allies of former President Donald Trump, according to court filings in a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against the network." (AP) 2/16/2023

"Fox's Kurtz says he's disallowed from covering Dominion case"
"Fox News media reporter Howard Kurtz says he's been barred by his company from covering Dominion Voting System's $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox and he “strongly disagrees” with the decision." (AP) 2/27/2023

"Murdoch admits some Fox hosts ‘were endorsing’ election falsehoods"
"Rupert Murdoch, chairman of Fox News’s parent company, acknowledged in a deposition that “some of our commentators were endorsing” the baseless narrative that the 2020 presidential election was stolen — and that he wishes the network did more to challenge those conspiracy theories." (WaPo) 2/27/2023

"Murdoch confided Trump was going ‘increasingly mad’ as Fox pushed false claims"
"In the weeks after the November 2020 election, Rupert Murdoch, the powerful chairman of Fox Corp., fretted that Donald Trump, the president he had supported, was going “increasingly mad.”

"He worried some ideas proposed by Trump’s allies to convince state legislatures to reject Biden victories in key swing states 'sound ridiculous' and could lead to 'riots like never before.'” (WaPo) 3/7/2023

"Fox chair Rupert Murdoch says 2020 election wasn’t stolen"
"Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch said under oath that he believes the 2020 presidential election was free, fair and not stolen, according to court filings released Tuesday in a lawsuit over Fox News’ coverage of former President Donald Trump’s unfounded election fraud claims."

"On Jan. 4, 2021, (Tucker) Carlson told an unidentified person he was texting with that 'we are very, very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights.' He said of the outgoing president, 'I hate him passionately.'” (AP) 3/8/2023

"Fox Producer Says She Was Set Up in Dominion Case "The producer, Abby Grossberg, said in a pair of lawsuits that the effort to place blame on her and Maria Bartiromo, the Fox Business host, was rooted in rampant misogyny and discrimination at the company."
”The lawsuits also include details about Ms. Grossberg’s work life at Fox and on Mr. Carlson’s show. Ms. Grossberg says she and other women endured frank and open sexism from co-workers and superiors at the network, which has been dogged for years by lawsuits and allegations about sexual harassment by Fox executives and stars."(NYT) 3/20/2023

"Judge rules favorably for Dominion in sending Fox News lawsuit to trial" "A judge ruled on Friday that Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News will go to trial next month, despite motions from both parties requesting that he decide the case in their favor before a jury weighs in."
”In his ruling, Davis determined that the conservative cable-news network had undeniably broadcast falsehoods when it allowed allies of Donald Trump to float baseless conspiracy theories about Dominion supposedly rigging voting machines to boost Joe Biden." (WaPo) 3/31/2023

"Fox shareholder sues Rupert Murdoch, other directors over 2020 election coverage" "A Fox Corp (FOXA.O) shareholder sued Chairman Rupert Murdoch and four other board members on Tuesday, saying they failed to stop Fox News from reporting falsehoods about the 2020 U.S. presidential election that damaged its credibility and prompted lawsuits." (Reuters) 4/11/2023

"Judge chides Fox News over ‘missing’ documents, orders investigation" "An attorney for Dominion Voting Systems alleged that Fox News withheld information that would have entitled Dominion to obtain more of network co-founder Rupert Murdoch’s communications in the election-technology company’s $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit.
But while the judge in the case refused Dominion’s request on Wednesday to have separate jury trials against both Fox and its parent company, he also rebuked Fox over the matter — saying that the network has a “credibility problem” and asking a court official to investigate further." (WaPo) 4/12/2023

"Judge delays trial over Fox News and 2020 election lies" "Without citing a reason, the Delaware judge overseeing a voting machine company’s $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News announced late Sunday that he was delaying the start of the trial until Tuesday." (AP) 4/16/2023

"Fox News settles defamation lawsuit with Dominion for $787.5 million, lawyer says" "Fox News agreed to settle a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems on Tuesday for $787.5 million, according to an attorney for the voting technology company, representing a stunning conclusion to one of the most-watched media trials in decades."
Fox: "We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false," (WaPo) 4/18/2023

"Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News after Dominion lawsuit disclosures" "In a shocking announcement, Fox News announced Monday that its controversial yet top-rated prime-time host Tucker Carlson is leaving the network."
“Fox News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways,” the network said in a statement. “We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor.”
"The apparently hasty parting — Carlson gave no indication he was leaving in his last nightly appearance Friday, and the network was still running promos for his show Monday morning — came less than a week after Fox settled a defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems, which had sued the network for false claims about the 2020 election. Carlson was among several on-air personalities expected to testify." (WaPo) 4/24/2023

Libel for sexual abuse - E. Jean Carroll rape case against Trump - Jump to latest headline ->

"Former President Donald Trump answered questions under oath Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by E. Jean Carroll, a magazine columnist who says he raped her in the mid-1990s in a department store dressing room."Mr Trump's lawyers tried to delay the deposition, but Judge Lewis A Kaplan of the federal court in Manhattan last week denied the request." (BBC) 10/19/2022

"Donald Trump faces new lawsuit from E. Jean Carroll, who's already suing him for defamation "Former President Donald Trump faces an unwelcome Thanksgiving Day entrée - a new lawsuit accusing him of battery in the alleged assault of E. Jean Carroll, a former magazine advice columnist." (USA Today) 11/22/2022

"Judge to Trump: Too late to offer DNA to rebut rape claim" "Former President Donald Trump missed his chance to use his DNA to try to prove he didn’t rape a longtime magazine advice columnist, a federal judge said Wednesday, clearing away a potential roadblock to an April trial." "He (the judge) said it would almost surely delay the trial scheduled to start April 25 to reopen the DNA issue four months after the deadline passed to litigate concerns over trial evidence and just weeks before trial." (AP) 2/15/2023

"Trump lawyers try to ban 'Access Hollywood' tape from trial" "Attorneys for Donald Trump want to ban from his upcoming civil rape trial the “Access Hollywood” tape in which the former president boasts graphically about how celebrities can molest women." (AP) 2/17/2023

"'Access Hollywood' tape can be used as evidence in civil case against Trump, judge rules" "The notorious 'Access Hollywood' tape that captured Donald Trump saying he can grope women without their consent can be used as evidence in writer E. Jean Carroll's defamation suit against the former president, a federal judge ruled Friday."

"The judge also ruled that he would allow testimony from two women who say they were sexually assaulted by Trump in different decades, allegations that Trump has denied and testimony that his lawyers also sought to exclude." (ABC News) 3/10/2023

"Will Trump attend his rape trial? Judge wants to know" "A federal judge wants to know if ex-President Donald Trump plans to attend a New York trial this month resulting from a columnist’s claims that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s." (AP) 4/10/2023

"Trump lawyer seeks monthlong delay in trial over rape claim" "An attorney for Donald Trump is seeking a one-month delay in the trial regarding a columnist’s claims that Trump raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s, contending that his client’s right to a fair trial depends on a “cooling off” period following the former president’s indictment and arraignment." (AP) 4/12/2023

Jessica Leeds (1980s)

"More than three decades ago, when she was a traveling businesswoman at a paper company, Ms. Leeds said, she sat beside Mr. Trump in the first-class cabin of a flight to New York. They had never met before. About 45 minutes after takeoff, she recalled, Mr. Trump lifted the armrest and began to touch her. According to Ms. Leeds, Mr. Trump grabbed her breasts and tried to put his hand up her skirt. 'He was like an octopus,' she said. 'His hands were everywhere. It was an assault." (NYT) 10/12/2016

Kristin Anderson (1990s)

"On October 14, 2016, The Washington Post reported an allegation by Kristin Anderson. Anderson said that Trump groped her beneath her skirt in a Manhattan nightclub in the early 1990s. An aspiring model at the time of the alleged incident, Anderson told the story to her friends, and decided to come forward after reading accounts of other women who had done so. Anderson believed the alleged assault occurred at the China Club, a Manhattan nightclub that Newsday referred to as 'Donald's Monday-night nest' due to his alleged habit of picking up women there." (WaPo) 10/14/2016

Lisa Boyne (1996)

"On October 13, 2016, The Huffington Post reported an allegation by Lisa Boyne. Boyne said Sonja Morgan (then Sonja Tremont) invited her to a dinner with Trump, modeling agent John Casablancas, and five or six models. Boyne alleged that Trump made the models walk across the table, looked under their skirts, and described if they were wearing underwear. Morgan told The Huffington Post that the dinner took place with those participants, did not recall lewd behaviour by Trump, and said: 'But I have been known to dance on tables.' Boyne said she called her roommate Karen Beatrice that night to inform her about the incident. The Huffington Post contacted Beatrice, who denied any such call."

Cathy Heller (1997)

"On October 15, 2016, The Guardian reported an allegation by Cathy Heller that she was grabbed and kissed by Donald Trump two decades earlier.[98] Heller said that, in 1997, she met Trump when she attended a Mother's Day brunch with her children, her husband, and her husband's parents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Her parents-in-law were members of Mar-a-Lago. Heller was introduced to Trump, who became angry when she avoided a kiss. He then 'grabbed' her and, when he tried to kiss her, she turned her head. Trump kissed her on the side of the mouth 'for a little too long' and then he left her.."

Temple Taggart McDowell (1997)

"In May 2016, The New York Times reported allegations by Temple Taggart McDowell. McDowell, who was Miss Utah USA in 1997, accused Trump of unwanted kisses and embraces that left McDowell and one of her chaperones so uncomfortable, according to McDowell, that she claimed she was instructed not to be left in a room alone with him again. According to McDowell, a chaperone had accompanied her to Trump's office. At the time, McDowell was 21 and was known as Temple Taggart. This incident occurred in Trump's first year of ownership of the M."

Amy Dorris (1997)

"Former model Amy Dorris said in September 2020 that she and her boyfriend, Jason Binn, attended the 1997 U.S. Open with Donald Trump, who Binn had described as his best friend. She alleges that Trump groped and kissed her without her consent at the event. The Guardian confirmed that she told her mother and a friend in New York immediately after the incident and that she had told her therapist and several other friends about it over the years; Binn did not reply to the Guardian's request for comment. Trump denied the allegation via his lawyers. Former top model Caron Bernstein stated that her husband was the New York friend and that Dorris had told her about the assault in 2008."

Karena Virginia (1998)

"At an October 2016 press conference with attorney Gloria Allred, yoga instructor and life coach Karena Virginia said that in 1998 Trump grabbed her arm and touched her breast. Virginia, who was 27 years old at the time, was waiting for a ride after the US Open in Queens, New York. She said Trump, whom she had not met previously, approached her with a small group of other men, while commenting on her legs, then he grabbed her right arm. Virginia continued, 'Then his hand touched the right side of my breast. I was in shock. I flinched. 'Don't you know who I am? Don't you know who I am?'—that's what he said to me. I felt intimidated and I felt powerless."

Karen Johnson (early 2000s)

"In Barry Levine and Monique El-Faizy's book All the President’s Women: Donald Trump and the Making of a Predator, Karen Johnson alleged that she attended a New Year's Eve party at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, where Trump grabbed her by her genitals, pulled her behind a tapestry, and forcibly kissed her. Johnson also alleged that days after the incident, Trump repeatedly called her (without her giving him the phone number), offering to fly her to meet him, which she rejected. The book states that Johnson told a friend about the incident years before Trump ran for president."

Mindy McGillivray (2003)

"In an October 2016 article by The Palm Beach Post, Mindy McGillivray stated that in January 2003, when she was 23 years old, she was groped by Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate. She said, 'All of a sudden I felt a grab, a little nudge. I think it's [my friend Ken Davidoff's] camera bag, that was my first instinct. I turn around and there's Donald. He sort of looked away quickly.' Ken Davidoff, a photographer, corroborated McGillivray's account, saying he remembered her pulling him aside moments after the alleged incident to say 'Donald just grabbed my ass!'"

Jennifer Murphy (2005)

"In early October 2016, Grazia reported an allegation by Jennifer Murphy, a former contestant on the fourth season of The Apprentice. Murphy said that in 2005, after Trump had recently married Melania Knauss, she had a job interview with Trump. When she was leaving, Trump kissed her on the lips, which took her by surprise. Murphy said Trump had offered her job interviews a day after she had left The Apprentice, that she ultimately declined his job offer, and that she would still vote for Trump in the 2016 election."

Rachel Crooks (2005)

In 2005, Rachel Crooks was a 22-year-old receptionist at Bayrock Group, a real estate investment and development company in Trump Tower in Manhattan. She says she encountered Trump in an elevator in the building one morning and turned to introduce herself. They shook hands, but Trump would not let go. "Aware that her company did business with Mr. Trump, she turned and introduced herself. They shook hands, but Mr. Trump would not let go, she said. Instead, he began kissing her cheeks. Then, she said, he “kissed me directly on the mouth.” (NYT) 10/12/2016

Natasha Stoynoff (2005)

"Canadian author and journalist Natasha Stoynoff, who wrote for People magazine and, previously, the Toronto Star and Toronto Sun, went to Trump's Florida estate in December 2005 to interview him and his wife, Melania. While there, Trump gave Stoynoff a tour of the Mar-a-Lago estate. She says that during this tour, he pushed her against a wall and forced his tongue into her mouth."

Juliet Huddy (2005 or 2006)

"In early December 2017, the reporter Juliet Huddy said Trump kissed her on the lips while they were on an elevator in Trump Tower with Trump's security guard in 2005 or 2006. Regarding this incident, Huddy said 'I was surprised that he went for the lips. But I didn't feel threatened ... Whatever, everything was fine. It was a weird moment. He never tried anything after that, and I was never alone with him.'"

Jessica Drake (2006)

"On October 22, 2016, Jessica Drake and attorney Gloria Allred held a news conference in which Drake accused Trump of having sexually assaulted her by grabbing tightly in a hug and kissed her and two acquaintances nearly ten years prior. Drake, an adult film actress and sex education advocate, said she met Trump at her company's booth during a charity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe in 2006. Drake claims she was invited to meet with Trump, who was married at the time, at his hotel suite; she was "uncomfortable going alone" and brought two friends. Describing the meeting with Trump, Drake recounted that "He grabbed each of us tightly, in a hug and kissed each one of us without asking permission."

Ninni Laaksonen (2006)

"On October 27, 2016, a local Finnish tabloid, Ilta-Sanomat, reported an allegation by Ninni Laaksonen, Miss Finland 2006. Laaksonen appeared with Trump on the Late Show with David Letterman on July 26, 2006. Laaksonen claims that before they went on the air, Trump grabbed her buttocks. As Laaksonen describes the interaction: 'He really grabbed my butt. I don't think anybody saw it but I flinched and thought: 'What is happening?' Someone later told Laaksonen that Trump liked her because she looked like his wife, Melania, when she was younger."[

Cassandra Searles (2013)

"Rolling Stone and NPR have reported that Cassandra Searles, Miss Washington USA of 2013, was fondled by Trump without her consent during the Miss USA pageant of that year. In June 2016, Searles wrote that Trump invited her to his hotel room. Yahoo!News published an article in June 2016 stating that Searles had made Facebook postings that accused Trump of making unwanted advances. She said he was "continually" groping her buttocks and had asked her to go "to his hotel room". Searles also asserted that Trump had "treated us like cattle". Trump and his campaign have not specifically responded to Searles' allegations."

E. Jean Carroll (2022)

"Writer and columnist E. Jean Carroll, who has maintained that Donald Trump sexually assaulted her once during the 1990s, plans to sue the former president under a New York law that lets sexual assault victims file suit years later, she said in court records filed Tuesday." Rape case ->