As Donald Trump's trials heat up, here's a guide to the major lawsuits.
Over the last three decades, former President Donald Trump has been involved in thousands of lawsuits in state and federal courts. But things became more serious since he won the 2016 presidential election, as federal and state prosecutors began criminal proceedings.
Last year, Trump was indicted four times for a handful of charges, ranging from mishandling classified documents to trying to illegally overturn the 2020 election to falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to an adult film actress and former Playboy model.
His federal and Georgia election interference cases have raised questions about the constitutionality of Trump even being on the ballot in November, while Trump has claimed his status as a former president grants him immunity from prosecution. Still, the former President's legal troubles haven't prevented him from running for office. Trump remains the top contender for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2024 election.
If you feel lost among the various civil lawsuits and criminal charges Trump is facing, you're not alone. Here is a brief overview of the cases Trump is fighting and where they stand.
Fraud allegations in New York v. Trump
On Sept. 21, 2023, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a civil lawsuit against Trump, his adult sons and his former business associate Allen Weisselberg for real estate fraud.
James claimed Trump engaged in fraud by inflating the property values of his real estate empire to get insurance and borrowing benefits. Other claims include conspiracy to falsify business records, issuing false financial statements and insurance fraud.
James is seeking $370 million from the defendants, largely from Trump himself and entities tied to him. In Sept. 2023, New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump had fraudulently inflated his assets in his financial statements and would lose his New York business certificates. An appeals court put the business certificates order on hold.
The trial began on Oct. 2, 2023. Closing arguments took place on Jan. 11. Judge Engoron ordered Trump and his company to pay $453.5 million, with additional penalties against two of his sons, and barred them from conducting business in the state.
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Falsifying business records for hush money payments in New York v. Trump
Trump was indicted by a New York grand jury on March 30, 2023. This made him the first former U.S. president to be indicted.
He is accused of falsifying business records about hush money payments to two women: former Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult film actress and director Stormy Daniels.
Prosecutors accused Trump of making $280,000 worth of payments to silence the women: A $130,000 payment was allegedly made to keep Daniels' story from going public during Trump's 2016 presidential run, while McDougal was paid $150,000.
Trump faces 34 felony counts in this indictment. He was arraigned on April 4, 2023, and pleaded not guilty.
The trial began on April 15.
Mishandling classified documents at Mar-a-Lago in United States v. Trump
Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida on June 8, 2023 for alleged mishandling classified documents seized at his Mar-a-Lago Florida estate. The charges against Trump also include obstructing justice, removing government records and violating the Espionage Act.
Trump faces 40 felony counts in this indictment. He was arraigned on June 13, 2023. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
This trial is set for May 20.
Election subversion in United States v. Trump
Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 1, 2023 for his alleged role in conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results.
He is accused of conspiring to steal the 2020 election from President Joe Biden, leading up to the Jan. 6 insurrection. He faces four felony counts, including:
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States.
Conspiracy to Obstruct an Official Proceeding.
Obstruction of and Attempt to Obstruct an Official Proceeding.
Conspiracy Against Rights.
The indictment alleges Trump directed his supporters to march to the Capitol on Jan. 6, worked with six co-conspirators to devise strategies to submit a fraudulent slate of electors to Congress and pressured former Vice President Mike Pence to reject the election results.
Trump was arraigned on Aug. 3, 2023 and plead not guilty.
The trial was scheduled to begin on March 4.
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Election subversion in Georgia v. Trump
Separate from the federal investigation, Trump was indicted by a Georgia grand jury on Aug. 14, 2023, after an investigation was launched in Feb. 2021 by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Willis is currently facing a controversy of her own that threatens to jeopardize her case.
Trump, along with Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Jeffrey Clark and 15 other co-defendants, are accused of "knowingly and willfully join[ing] a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump” and discarding President Joe Biden’s win in Georgia during the 2020 presidential election. Several former co-defendants, including Trump's former attorney Jenna Ellis, accepted plea deals this past fall.
Among Trump's charges are racketeering, soliciting state officials to violate their oaths of office, filing false statements and conspiracy dealing with fake electors in the state. On Aug. 31, 2023, Trump pleaded not guilty to the Georgia charges.
Willis proposed the trial start on Aug. 5, while Trump and his attorneys opposed having the trial that soon. A judge hasn't set an official date yet.
Defamation in E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump
Author and journalist E. Jean Carroll sued Donald Trump twice. In 2019, she filed a lawsuit against Trump alleging that he defamed her when, as president, he denied her statements that he assaulted her in a New York City department store in 1996.
Carroll filed a second suit in 2022 under the Adult Survivors Act, a New York state law that gave victims a one-year window to sue their alleged attackers. She also sued him for statements he made after he left office.
In May 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for defamation and sexual abuse. Trump was ordered to pay $5 million in damages. Trump is appealing the verdict.
At the trial this month, the jury was asked to decide how much Trump must pay Carroll for his 2019 statements. On Jan. 26, the jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump's trials, lawsuits from Georgia to New York
