A comprehensive timeline of former President Donald Trump’s indictments, including all the major charges and players:
- 2022
December 19: The U.S. House committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol releases a report that makes criminal referrals to the U.S. Justice Department for Trump and attorney John Eastman.
The U.S. House committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol was composed of seven Democrats and two Republicans. The Democrats were:
- Bennie Thompson (Mississippi), the chair
- Zoe Lofgren (California)
- Adam Schiff (California)
- Jamie Raskin (Maryland)
- Elaine Luria (Virginia)
- Pete Aguilar (California)
- Stephanie Murphy (Florida)
- Adam Kinzinger (Illinois)
The Republicans were:
- Liz Cheney (Wyoming), the vice chair
- Adam Kinzinger (Illinois)
It should be noted that both Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger lost their reelection efforts by landslides.
The committee was created by the House of Representatives on June 30, 2021, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected two Republican members appointed by Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. The committee’s mandate was to investigate the facts, circumstances, and causes of the January 6th attack, and to make recommendations to prevent future attacks.
Recently, the committee has admitted to destroying a massive amount of evidence they collected during the investigation. An extraordinarily rare event, in fact, I could not find any other instance of which this happened.
2023
March 30: A Manhattan grand jury votes to indict Trump on 34 felony counts of violating a New York law on corporate record-keeping.
On March 30, 2023, a Manhattan grand jury, led by Alvin Bragg, The Manhattan district attorney. voted to indict former President Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of violating a New York law on corporate record-keeping. The charges stemmed from an investigation into Trump’s business practices, specifically his involvement in hush money payments made to two women during his 2016 presidential campaign.
The indictment alleged that Trump and his associates repeatedly falsified business records to conceal the payments, which were made to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The indictment also alleged that Trump and his associates misled banks and insurance companies about the payments.
The charges against Trump included:
- Falsifying business records in the first degree (16 counts)
- Grand larceny in the third degree (10 counts)
- Conspiracy to commit a crime (2 counts)
- Offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree (2 counts)
- Repeatedly filing false business records (4 counts)
Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges on April 4, 2023. His trial is scheduled to begin in July 2024.
The indictment of Trump was a significant development in the ongoing investigation into his business practices. It was the first time that a former president had been indicted on criminal charges. The indictment also raised the possibility that Trump could be convicted and imprisoned.
The indictment was met with mixed reactions. Some people praised the Manhattan district attorney’s office for taking action against Trump, while others criticized the charges as politically motivated. The case is likely to continue to be closely watched, as it could have a major impact on Trump’s political future.
In addition to the criminal charges, Trump is also facing many civil lawsuits related to his business practices. These lawsuits allege that Trump engaged in a variety of fraudulent and illegal activities, including inflating the value of his assets and using his charitable foundation for personal and political gain.
April 4: District Attorney Alvin Bragg of Manhattan announces the indictment against Trump. Trump turns himself in to authorities, is processed as a criminal defendant, pleads not guilty and is released without having to post bail.
On April 4, 2023, District Attorney Alvin Bragg of Manhattan announced the indictment of former President Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of violating a New York law on corporate record-keeping. The charges stemmed from a two-year investigation into Trump’s business practices, including his use of hush money payments to silence women who claimed to have had affairs with him.
Trump turned himself in to authorities later that day and was processed as a criminal defendant. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released without having to post bail.
The indictment was a major development in the ongoing investigations into Trump’s conduct. It was the first time that a former president had been indicted on criminal charges since Bill Clinton was indicted on perjury charges in 1998.
The indictment was also a significant victory for Bragg, who had been criticized by some for not moving more quickly to charge Trump. Bragg had said that he wanted to make sure that the case was airtight before bringing charges.
Here are some additional details about the indictment:
- The charges against Trump include falsifying business records, misleading banks and insurance companies, and using his charitable foundation for personal and political gain.
- The indictment alleges that Trump and his associates created false documents and altered existing documents in order to conceal financial information from banks, insurance companies, and the public.
- The indictment also alleges that Trump used his charitable foundation to pay for personal expenses, such as legal fees and golf outings.
- Trump has denied all of the charges against him.
- The case is being prosecuted by the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is led by Alvin Bragg.
June 8: A federal grand jury in Florida indicts Trump on 37 charges in the “classified documents case.” The charges allege that Trump mishandled classified government documents after he left office.
On June 8, 2023, a federal grand jury in Florida indicted former President Donald Trump on 37 charges in the “classified documents case.” The charges allege that Trump mishandled classified government documents after he left office by taking them to his private club, Mar-a-Lago, and storing them in unsecured locations, including a bathroom.
The indictment specifically alleges that Trump:
- Removed classified documents from the White House after he left office;
- Failed to properly classify or mark classified documents;
- Stored classified documents in unsecured locations;
- Allowed unauthorized people to access classified documents; and
- Obstructed an investigation into his handling of classified documents.
The charges against Trump carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The indictment is the latest development in the ongoing investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents. In April 2022, the Justice Department appointed a special counsel to investigate the matter. The special counsel, John Smith, has been granted broad authority to investigate Trump’s conduct, including his possible obstruction of justice.
June 9: The indictment is unsealed and Trump pleads not guilty in federal court in Miami.
On June 9, 2023, a federal grand jury in Miami unsealed an indictment charging former President Donald Trump with 37 felony counts of mishandling classified documents after he left office. The charges included 31 counts of willfully retaining national defense information, two counts of making false statements, and four counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment in federal court in Miami. He was released on a $1 million bond and was ordered to surrender his passport.
The indictment alleges that Trump took classified documents from the White House to his private residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, and failed to properly secure them. The documents included classified intelligence reports, presidential daily briefs, and other sensitive materials.
The indictment also alleges that Trump made false statements to investigators about the documents and obstructed their efforts to retrieve them.
Trump’s lawyers have argued that the charges are politically motivated and that he did not commit any crimes. They have also said that the documents were not classified at the time that Trump took them.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. The trial is scheduled to begin in January 2024.
July 27: A superseding indictment is filed in the classified documents case, adding three new charges against Trump and two new charges against his longtime aide, Walt Nauta.
On July 27, 2023, a superseding indictment was filed in the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump and his longtime aide, Walt Nauta. The superseding indictment added three new charges against Trump and two new charges against Nauta.
The new charges against Trump are:
- Obstruction of justice: Trump is accused of conspiring with Nauta to delete security camera footage from Mar-a-Lago that showed them removing classified documents from the property.
- Willful retention of national defense information: Trump is accused of willfully retaining a top-secret military document about Iran that he showed to people who did not have the proper security clearance.
- Making false statements: Trump is accused of lying to the FBI about his handling of classified documents.
The new charges against Nauta are:
- Obstruction of justice: Nauta is accused of conspiring with Trump to delete security camera footage from Mar-a-Lago.
- Making false statements: Nauta is accused of lying to the FBI about his handling of classified documents.
The superseding indictment also added a third defendant to the case, Carlos De Oliveira, a property manager at Mar-a-Lago. De Oliveira is accused of lying to the FBI about his knowledge of the removal of classified documents from the property.
Trump, Nauta, and De Oliveira have all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. The case is scheduled for trial in Miami in January 2024.
August 1: A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicts Trump on four counts of obstruction of justice and defrauding the United States in connection with his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
On August 1, 2023, a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted former President Donald Trump on four counts of obstruction of justice and defrauding the United States in connection with his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The charges are:
- Count 1: Obstruction of an official proceeding. This charge alleges that Trump obstructed a congressional investigation into the January 6th attack on the Capitol by refusing to cooperate with the committee’s subpoenas and by directing his aides to do the same.
- Count 2: Obstruction of Congress. This charge alleges that Trump obstructed a congressional investigation into the January 6th attack by making false and misleading statements to the committee.
- Count 3: Conspiracy to defraud the United States. This charge alleges that Trump conspired with others to defraud the United States by pressuring state officials to overturn the election results and by attempting to interfere with the certification of Joe Biden’s victory.
- Count 4: Conspiracy against rights. This charge alleges that Trump conspired against the rights of citizens by attempting to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power.
The indictment is the culmination of a two-year investigation by a special counsel appointed by the Justice Department. The special counsel, Jack Smith, is a former federal prosecutor who has a reputation for being tough on white-collar crime.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to fight the charges. He has called the investigation a “witch hunt” and a “hoax.”
On August 14, 2023,
A grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, indicted former President Donald Trump and 18 other individuals on charges of racketeering, conspiracy, solicitation to commit election fraud, and other offenses. The indictment alleges that Trump and his associates engaged in a “criminal enterprise” to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
Specifically, the indictment alleges that Trump and his associates:
- Pressured Georgia election officials to “find” enough votes to overturn Trump’s loss in the state.
- Spread false information about the election results in Georgia.
- Threatened and intimidated election officials in Georgia.
- Tried to interfere with the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia.
The indictment is the first time that a former president has been indicted on charges related to an election. It is a major development in the ongoing investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to fight the charges. He has called the investigation a “witch hunt” and a “hoax.”
The case is still in its early stages, and Trump may be acquitted. However, the indictment is a significant development and it is a reminder that Trump is still facing serious legal challenges.
The Atlanta case is different from the Washington, D.C., case in several ways. First, the Atlanta case is being brought by a state prosecutor, while the Washington, D.C., case is being brought by a federal prosecutor. Second, the Atlanta case focuses on Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results in Georgia, while the Washington, D.C., case focuses on Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results nationwide.
The two cases could be consolidated, but it is also possible that they will be tried separately. The outcome of the Atlanta case could have a significant impact on the Washington, D.C., case. If Trump is convicted in Atlanta, it could make it more difficult for him to win acquittal in Washington, D.C.
Major Players:
Alvin Bragg, an attorney and former prosecutor, has been associated with certain progressive movements and organizations that focus on criminal justice reform and social justice issues.
- Color Of Change: Alvin Bragg has worked with Color Of Change, a progressive civil rights organization that advocates for radical racial justice and various social issues. Color Of Change aims to address disparities in the criminal justice system and advocate for reforms to reduce racial inequality.
- Criminal Justice Reform Advocacy: Bragg has been an advocate for criminal justice reform and has spoken out on issues related to mass incarceration, police misconduct, and the need for fairer sentencing practices. His stance on these issues aligns with many progressive organizations and movements that seek to reform the criminal justice system.
- End Cash Bail: Bragg has expressed support for ending or significantly reducing the use of cash bail in the criminal justice system. This position aligns with progressive movements that argue cash bail disproportionately affects low-income individuals and can lead to pretrial detention solely based on economic status.
Andrew Weissmann is a former federal prosecutor and lawyer who gained prominence through his involvement in several high-profile cases, most notably his role as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, which has subsequently been proven false.
Weissmann’s background includes:
- Aggressive Prosecutorial Tactics: Weissmann has an aggressive approach to prosecutions, which borders on overreach. He has been accused of pressuring witnesses and employing tactics that infringe upon defendants’ rights. His focus on securing convictions at any cost led to injustices in the legal system.
- Enron Task Force: Weissmann led the Enron Task Force, a team dedicated to investigating the Enron scandal, one of the largest corporate fraud cases in history. While he secured convictions of several Enron executives, his tactics, such as using broad conspiracy charges and pressuring witnesses, resulted in questionable convictions and contributed to the demise of the Arthur Andersen accounting firm.
- Political Bias: Weissmann’s political leanings have influenced his prosecutorial decisions. His attendance at Hillary Clinton’s election night event in 2016 and his donations to Democratic candidates are evidence of potential bias. His involvement in the Mueller investigation has been influenced by a desire to target President Trump.
- Overzealous Pursuit of Manafort: Weissmann’s pursuit of Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, raises concerns about his tactics. His efforts to flip Manafort into cooperating with the Mueller investigation have been driven by a desire to target the Trump administration rather than a pursuit of justice.
- Lack of Transparency: Weissmann has faced criticism for his lack of transparency in handling investigations. He has been resistant to disclosing information to the public, undermining trust in the legal process.
Former President Donald Trump is facing many legal challenges, including two indictments on charges of obstruction of justice and defrauding the United States in connection with his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. He is also facing a criminal investigation in Georgia on charges of racketeering, conspiracy, solicitation to commit election fraud, and other offenses.