Donald Trump, the former U.S. president, has been at the center of multiple criminal trials and indictments. These legal battles have significantly impacted his political career and are expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming election campaign.
Criminal Trials and Convictions
In 2023 and 2024, Donald Trump faced various legal challenges. He was found liable in civil cases for both sexual abuse and defamation. Additionally, Trump was criminally convicted of 34 felonies related to falsifying business records, specifically linked to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. This conviction made him the first former U.S. president to be criminally convicted in American history.
Four Major Indictments
Trump is currently facing four criminal indictments totaling 91 felony counts. These include:
- United States of America v. Donald Trump: Four counts related to his alleged role in attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack.
- The State of Georgia v. Donald Trump, et al.: Ten counts concerning his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
- United States of America v. Donald J. Trump, Waltine Nauta, and Carlos De Oliveira: Forty counts related to his possession of classified documents and alleged obstruction of efforts to retrieve them.
Civil Liabilities and Financial Penalties
In addition to these criminal indictments, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse in the case of E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump in May 2023. He was ordered to pay $88.3 million in damages. Later, in September 2023, he was found guilty of financial fraud and faced a $457 million judgment, which is currently under appeal.
Public Opinion and Polling
Polling data reveals that a significant portion of the American public views Donald Trump’s charges as serious. According to an April 2024 Reuters/Ipsos poll, 74% of registered voters found Trump’s charges in the federal elections case to be serious, while 72% felt the same about the Georgia case. Despite these figures, Trump still retains substantial support among Republican voters, although some have expressed a willingness to reconsider their support if he is convicted.
Potential Impact on the 2024 Election
Trump has attempted to delay his trials until after the 2024 presidential election. If he wins, he could potentially dismiss federal charges and issue a presidential self-pardon. The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Donald Trump v. United States further complicates the situation by granting him varying levels of immunity for acts committed during his presidency. This decision has delayed his sentencing and could push back other trial dates.
Concerns About Political Violence
The criminal trials and indictments against Donald Trump have sparked concerns about political violence in the lead-up to the 2024 election. Trump’s rhetoric, which includes embracing extremism and far-right movements, has heightened fears of violence. He has refused to rule out the possibility of unrest following the election, leaving the door open for potential conflict.
Assassination Attempt
On July 13, 2024, Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The attacker, armed with an AR-15–style rifle, fired at Trump, injuring him and killing an audience member. The shooter was killed by the Secret Service, and the motive behind the attempt is still under investigation. This incident underscores the heightened tensions surrounding Trump’s political and legal battles.
Related: History of Political Assassinations and the Donald Trump Attempt
