Charges that Donald Trump mishandled classified documents were dismissed by a federal judge in Florida who ruled that the special prosecutor who brought the case was improperly appointed.
The decision came as The Republican National Convention kicked off in Milwaukee. It is almost certain to be appealed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
But Trump in May was found guilty of 34 felony counts in New York. He is still facing criminal charges in Georgia and Washington but a recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court saying presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts could impact those cases.
Additionally, he has been ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages in several civil cases.
Trump will be named this week as the Republican nominee for president.
Here’s how the criminal cases compare:
What they allegedly involve:
Georgia: Efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia.
Florida: Trump’s mishandling classified documents he took with him from the White House to Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate, after leaving office.
Washington: Trump’s attempts in a number of swing states to overturn the results of 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, and how they helped lead to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
New York: Falsification of business records related to hush money paid to former porn star Stormy Daniels in advance of the 2016 election.
What are the charges?:
Credit: Michael Blackshire
Credit: Michael Blackshire
Georgia: Trump is charged with violating the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act, known as RICO. He is also charged with nine other felonies. Eighteen others were charged for being part of the alleged criminal enterprise. The 97-page indictment includes 41 felony counts in all and also lists 30 unindicted co-conspirators. (A judge has since dismissed six of those counts but that decision is being appealed. Four of the original defendants reached plea deals with prosecutors last fall.)
Florida: Trump was charged with 40 felony counts in Miami related to his mishandling of classified documents. They included violating the Espionage Act, obstructing justice and making false statements. Trump’s personal aide, Walt Nauta, and another Mar-a-Lago employee, Carlos De Oliveira, were also charged.
Washington: A four-count indictment charged Trump with conspiracy to defraud the United States, witness tampering and conspiracy against the rights of citizens and an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding. The charging document also lists six co-conspirators but does not name them.
New York: Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors allege Trump created fictitious records to pay off Daniels $130,000 in October 2016 after she threatened to expose their alleged affair in advance of the 2016 presidential election.
Who are the prosecutors?
Georgia: Fani Willis took office in 2021, becoming the first woman to hold the district attorney seat in Fulton County. Earlier this month, she easily beat back a Democratic primary challenger and will face Republican Courtney Kramer in the November general election as she seeks a second four-year term.
Florida and Washington: Jack Smith was appointed in 2022 as special counsel to oversee the U.S. Department of Justice probes involving Trump.
New York: Alvin Bragg was elected in 2022, becoming Manhattan’s first Black district attorney.
What’s the timing?
Georgia: The case was delayed for about two months earlier this year while Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee decided whether Willis’ romance with her then-special prosecutor should disqualify her from the case. McAfee ruled she could stay, but the Georgia Court of Appeals has agreed to hear a challenge. That appeal will further delay the start of a trial.
Florida: U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case saying the appointment of Smith as special prosecutor was improper. The Justice Department is expected to appeal the decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, which could overturn the ruling. But the move will significantly delay the federal case, which had already been stalled.
Washington: A trial for the federal election interference case had been set for March but U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan delayed the proceedings because of a dispute over the reach of presidential immunity. Trump’s lawyers argued he was shielded from prosecution. The question went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which held arguments in late April and the justices are expected to hand down a decision by the end of June.
New York: Jury selection in the hush money trial began April 15. Twenty-two witnesses testified over the nearly six-week trial. The jury deliberated for nearly 12 hours before reaching its decision just before 5 p.m. Thursday.
Who are the witnesses?
Georgia: A trial witness list prepared by prosecutors included former Vice President Mike Pence, ex-Attorney General Bill Barr and Steve Bannon, the conservative provocateur. The list also includes top Georgia Republicans, such as Gov. Brian Kemp, Attorney General Chris Carr, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Florida: Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former Vice President Mike Pence were among those who testified before a grand jury weighing whether to charge Trump.
Washington: Former Vice President Mike Pence was among he witnesses who testified before the federal grand jury.
New York: Manhattan prosecutors called 20 witnesses including former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, onetime White House aide Hope Hicks and Daniels. The defense called two witnesses. Trump did not testify.
What has Trump said?
In all the cases, Trump has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty. He has repeatedly attacked the the three prosecutors in campaign speeches and on social media.
What about the civil cases?
New York fraud trial:
A New York judge in February fined Trump $454 million for fraudulently manipulating the value of his real estate assets.
The penalty resulted from a civil suit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James who argued Trump lied about his wealth for years.
The former president has posted a $175 million bond while he appeals the judgment.
Credit: NYT
Credit: NYT
E. Jean Carroll
In May 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. They awarded her $5 million in damages.
A second defamation case against Trump ― who was accused of damaging Carroll’s reputation after he called her a liar ― saw her awarded an additional $83.3 million in damages earlier this year.
While he appeals the decision, Trump has anted up a bond of $92 million to ensure Carroll is paid.
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