Donald Trump’s latest legal news

Former US President, Donald Trump, faces multiple investigations, largely concentrated in New York, even after leaving the White House. Here are five of the most significant:

1. Hush-money payments
The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, is believed to be in the final stages of his investigation into hush-money payments made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels in late 2016. Former Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen made a $130,000 payment to Daniels to silence her about an alleged affair between herself and Trump, which he denies. The district attorney wants to know if illegal campaign donations were made or if Trump himself violated tax laws.

2. Mar-a-Lago documents
Special counsel, Jack Smith, is overseeing the Department of Justice’s investigation relating to the retention of national defence information at Trump’s resort and parts of the 6 January 2021 insurrection. The DOJ is investigating whether Trump mishandled classified documents from the White House when they were taken to Mar-a-Lago in Florida after he left office. A federal grand jury has interviewed potential witnesses regarding how the documents were handled.

3. 2020 election and 6 January 2021
As part of his purview, the Special Counsel’s office is examining the period following Trump’s 2020 election defeat, leading up to and including the 6 January insurrection. The investigation extends to the use of fake electors from swing states that Trump falsely claimed he had won, such as Georgia and Arizona. The special counsel’s office has already sought testimony from key insiders, such as former Vice President Mike Pence, Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner.

4. Efforts to overturn Georgia election results
Fulton County District Attorney, Fani Willis, is investigating whether Trump or his allies performed any unlawful acts in their efforts to overturn Biden’s victory in Georgia. The grand jury has issued a report – which remains mostly under seal – that suggests perjury charges be considered against some who testified. The grand jury has also recommended charges be brought against over a dozen other people.

5. House select committee
The House Select Committee investigating the 6 January Capitol attack issued an 845-page report that alleges Trump oversaw the legally dubious effort to put forward fake slates of electors in seven states he lost. The committee referred Trump to the Department of Justice on at least four criminal charges. All of which came before the House reverted to Republican control at the end of the year.

Trump has always denied any wrongdoing and has stated that all the investigations are purely politically motivated.  However, given the extensive public documentation relating to the investigations, and the detailed evidence already gathered and ready to be presented in court if necessary, the likelihood of criminal charges against him remains high.



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