Blog

Nov 04, 2023

Trump indictment intensifies legal woes; here are the other investigations he has to worry about

ABC News Investigative Reporter Aaron Katersky talks to Bill Ritter about the

ABC News Investigative Reporter Aaron Katersky talks to Bill Ritter about the historic nature of Donald Trump's indictment on federal charges in an investigation into his handling of classified documents.

Donald Trump's legal problems escalated significantly this week with federal charges over the retention of top secret documents, but investigators aren't done yet.

The former president faces a string of inquiries in various states and venues as he campaigns for a second term in the White House. He's already been charged in a 34-count indictment in New York in a hush money case. The others include federal and state investigations into his efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 election and a civil case that threatens his ability to ever again do business in New York.

Former President Donald Trump speaks with supporters at the Westside Conservative Breakfast on June 1, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Trump, a Republican, has denied any wrongdoing and says he is being targeted by Democrats trying to keep him from reclaiming the presidency in 2024.

Here's a look at the top probes:

Trump became the first former U.S. president in history to face criminal charges when he was indicted in New York in March on state charges stemming from hush money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to bury allegations that he had extramarital sexual encounters.

He pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Each count is punishable by up to four years in prison, though it's not clear if a judge would impose any prison time if Trump is convicted.

The counts are linked to a series of checks that were written to his lawyer Michael Cohen to reimburse him for his role in paying off porn actor Stormy Daniels, who alleged a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, not long after Melania Trump gave birth to their son, Barron. Those payments were recorded in various internal company documents as being for a legal retainer that prosecutors say didn't exist.

The former president is next set to appear in court on Dec. 4, two months before Republicans begin their nominating process in earnest.

For over two years, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and his allies illegally meddled in the 2020 election in Georgia.

She wrote in a letter to the county sheriff that she expects to announce any charging decisions between July 11 and Sept. 1. In a separate letter to a county Superior Court judge, she suggested that any indictments would likely come in August.

The Democratic district attorney's investigation began shortly after the release of a recording of a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which the then-president suggested that Raffensperger could "find 11,780 votes" — just enough to overtake Democrat Joe Biden and overturn Trump's narrow loss in the state.

But the investigation's scope broadened considerably after that, and Willis convened a special grand jury to hear testimony from witnesses including high-profile Trump allies, such as attorney Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and high-ranking Georgia officials, such as Raffensperger and Gov. Brian Kemp.

Prosecutors advised Giuliani and Georgia Republicans who served as fake electors that they were at risk of being indicted. The fake electors signed a certificate asserting Trump had won the election and declaring themselves the state's electors, even though Biden had won the state and Democratic electors had already been certified.

A court filing in early May indicated that Willis had reached immunity deals with at least eight fake electors, suggesting they may be cooperating with authorities.

The foreperson on the special grand jury indicated publicly that the panel had recommended multiple indictments. It's now up to Willis to decide whether to convene a regular grand jury and pursue criminal charges in the case.

Trump and his allies have denied wrongdoing, and he has repeatedly described his phone call to Raffensperger as "perfect."

Special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Trump's handling of classified documents, has also been leading a team probing efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the election that he falsely claimed was stolen.

Prosecutor Jack Smith waits for the start of the court session of Kadri Veseli's initial appearance at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers court in The Hague, Netherlands, Nov. 10, 2020. Smith, the prosecutor named as special counsel to oversee investigations related to former President Donald Trump, has a long career confronting public corruption and war crimes.

Federal prosecutors have been especially focused on a scheme by Trump allies to put forth a slate of fake presidential electors in key battleground states who falsely declared that Trump, not Biden, had won the 2020 election. They have issued subpoenas to a number of state Republican Party chairs.

Federal prosecutors have brought multiple Trump administration officials before that grand jury for questioning, including former Vice President Mike Pence.

In a sign of the wide-ranging nature of the investigation, election officials in multiple states whose results were disputed by Trump have received subpoenas asking for past communications with or involving Trump and his campaign aides.

A House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol recommended that the Justice Department bring criminal charges against Trump and associates who helped him launch a wide-ranging pressure campaign to try to overturn his 2020 election loss.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has sued Trump and the Trump Organization, alleging they misled banks and tax authorities about the value of assets including golf courses and skyscrapers to get loans and tax benefits.

That lawsuit could lead to civil penalties against the company if James, a Democrat, prevails. She is seeking a $250 million fine and a ban on Trump doing business in New York. Manhattan prosecutors investigated the same alleged conduct but did not pursue criminal charges.

A civil trial is scheduled in state court for October.

In a separate civil case in federal court in New York, Trump was found liable in May of sexually abusing and defaming former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s. The jury rejected Carroll's claim that Trump had raped her in a dressing room.

Trump was ordered to pay $5 million to Carroll. He has appealed and has adamantly denied her accusations.

A woman holds up a poster as part of a protest in front of the courthouse ahead of former President Donald Trump's anticipated indictment on Monday, March 20, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

A supporter of former President Donald Trump exits Trump Tower on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. The man visited to show his support for the former president and his opposition of District Attorney Alvin Bragg's attempt to have Trump indicted. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

A supporter of former President Donald Trump unfurls a flag outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New York State Court police keep an eye as people protest in front of the courthouse ahead of former President Donald Trump's anticipated indictment on Monday, March 20, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Enzo Alcindor, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, sits on his vehicle with flags outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Paula Magnuson, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, walks with her dogs outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Bob Fertik, of New York, stands in front of the New York Criminal Courts building carrying a sign supporting the possible criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump, on Monday, March 20, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

Stephanie Lu, of New York, stands in front of the New York Criminal Courts building criticizing New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg and a possible criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump, on Monday, March 20, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Supporters of former President Donald Trump's protest in front of the New York Criminal Courts building on Monday, March 20, 2023, in New York. A New York grand jury has heard from what could be the final witness in the investigation into Trump as law enforcement officials accelerate security preparations in advance of a possible indictment. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

A supporter of former President Donald Trump raises a flag outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

A vehicle drives past President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. The decision whether to indict former President Donald Trump over hush-money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 presidential campaign lies in the hands of a Manhattan grand jury that has been meeting in secret to hear evidence for weeks. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Media gathers around a lone supporter of former President Donald Trump as she protests a in front of Trump Tower, on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. A New York grand jury investigating Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star appears poised to complete its work soon as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

A woman performs with a mask of former president Donald Trump as a small group of people protest near the District Attorney office, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York, in an anticipation of former president's possible indictment. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

A man, wearing a patriotic colored Guy Fawkes mask and holding an American flag, joins a small group of protesters near the Manhattan District Attorney's office, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York, in an anticipation of former President Donald Trump's possible indictment. A New York grand jury investigating Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star appears poised to complete its work soon as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Kathy Clark, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, stands outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Colton McCormick, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, stands outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Jeffrey Shinko, of Lucerne County, Pa, holds a sign while standing in front Trump Tower on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. Shinko traveled from Pennsylvania to New York City to show his support for former President Donald Trump. A New York grand jury investigating Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star appears poised to complete its work soon as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

A Trump supporter takes part in a protest near the Manhattan District Attorney's office, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York, in an anticipation of former President Donald Trump's possible indictment. A New York grand jury investigating Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star appears poised to complete its work soon as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

A Trump supporter wearing a costume with antlers takes part in a protest near the district attorney's office in New York on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, ahead of former President Donald Trump's anticipated indictment. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Supporters of former U.S. president Donald Trump take part in a protest near the District Attorney office ahead of former President Donald Trump's anticipated indictment on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. A New York grand jury investigating Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star appears poised to complete its work soon as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment.(AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Mary Kelley, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, stands outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

A supporter of former President Donald Trump holds up a Bible as she acknowledges passers-by, outside his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Supporters of former President Donald Trump gather outside his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A supporter of former President Donald Trump walks with a cross from outside his Mar-a-Lago estate over a bridge to West Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A woman walks on Fifth Avenue carrying a flag showing support for former President Donald Trump, on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

Trump supporter Jeffrey Shinko, right, of Lucerne County, Pa, and a man protesting Trump, argue about a possible criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

Mike Hisey, left, dressed to portray former President Donald Trump in a prison uniform, stands in front of Trump Tower ahead of a possible announcement of a criminal indictment of the former president on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

As former President Donald Trump lashed out about his indictment in Florida, many fellow Republicans fell in line behind him, with some marked…

ABC News Investigative Reporter Aaron Katersky talks to Bill Ritter about the historic nature of Donald Trump's indictment on federal charges …

Donald Trump says he's been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate, igniting a federal prosecution that…

Donald Trump's indictment on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate has brought renewed attention to one of the mos…

Former President Donald Trump has emerged largely unscathed politically from his New York indictment. But a new poll suggests that investigati…

Former President Donald Trump is trying to turn criminal charges against him to his political advantage. Trump has been claiming the 34 felony…