Donald Trump’s Criminal Cases
Donald Trump is gearing up for what could be a very eventful legal week as he continues to battle numerous criminal charges.
The former president, who is campaigning for a return to the White House, is dealing with a series of felony counts and a criminal conviction. Despite the mounting legal challenges, Trump remains firm in his stance, insisting on his innocence across the board.
One of Trump’s ongoing legal battles, where he’s charged with four federal counts tied to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election and stay in power, has a hearing set for later this week. The judge will decide how to move forward in light of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity from July.
In another case, Trump is also trying to delay his sentencing for the hush money conviction from May. However, it’s still uncertain whether the judge will agree to his request. Here’s a look at what might happen with these cases in the coming week.
Where Trump’s 2020 Election Subversion Case Stands
Last week, the Justice Department updated its case against Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This came after a Supreme Court decision that shields presidents from criminal charges for actions taken in their official capacity.
In the revised indictment, prosecutors made the case that Trump was acting as a candidate, not as the president, when he tried to interfere with the election results. This includes his involvement in the events leading up to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has scheduled a hearing for Thursday to discuss how to move forward with the case in light of the recent Supreme Court ruling. This status hearing was planned before the Department of Justice issued its new indictment, which could now lead to further delays as Trump prepares to launch a new series of appeals against the charges.
Last week, both parties in the case filed a joint status report, but there was disagreement over how to proceed. While Trump’s legal team outlined various strategies to dismiss the charges, prosecutors from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office requested that Judge Chutkan conduct a swift review of how the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling affects the allegations in the indictment.
Legal experts are divided on whether Smith’s new indictment was a wise move. Some have hailed it as a “stroke of genius,” while others have expressed concerns, telling Newsweek that the revised charges are risky for the DOJ since they provide Trump with another opportunity to challenge the case.
What’s Next in Trump’s Hush Money Conviction?
Former President Trump is continuing to challenge his conviction in New York, where he was found guilty of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records. These charges are linked to his efforts to conceal a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Last month, Trump’s legal team attempted to transfer the case to a federal court, but U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein swiftly denied the request.
A court clerk noted that the request had been submitted under the “wrong event type.” Trump’s campaign has indicated that they are working to re-submit the request correctly to ensure proper filing.
In addition, Trump has requested to indefinitely postpone his sentencing, which is set for September 18, while he seeks federal court intervention. Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, is expected to rule on Trump’s latest appeal to overturn the verdict.
This appeal is based on a recent Supreme Court ruling related to presidential immunity, and the decision is expected on September 16.
In a statement shared with the Associated Press, Trump’s attorneys, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, argued that there’s no justification for sentencing Trump before November 5, 2024—if sentencing is even necessary—or for rushing the post-trial process.
As of now, Judge Merchan has not responded to these requests.