Donald Trump made history by becoming the first president-elect to be criminally sentenced just days before his inauguration. He was convicted for attempting to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. Despite facing 34 counts of falsifying business records, Trump was given a no-penalty sentence by a Manhattan judge, which means he won’t face imprisonment, probation, or fines. Although he has maintained his innocence, calling the case a “witch-hunt,” Trump’s legal troubles continue as he enters the White House for a second term.
In addition to the hush money case, Trump faces multiple ongoing criminal and civil lawsuits. He has been charged with attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election and was involved in the January 6 riots, though these cases have faced legal setbacks. A Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 granted former presidents immunity from prosecution for actions taken while in office, leading to the suspension of several charges. Trump’s lawyers argued that such actions were protected, and prosecutors have had difficulty continuing these cases.
Trump was also charged in Georgia for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state, using racketeering laws. The case is on hold due to legal challenges, including disputes over the disqualification of the lead prosecutor. The court still needs to resolve whether a sitting president can be prosecuted at the state level. Although several charges have been dismissed, the case remains complicated, and the process could take years to resolve.
Another case against Trump involved the mishandling of classified documents from the White House, but the charges were dismissed in mid-2024, with an appeals court upholding the decision. Despite this legal victory, Trump is still dealing with numerous civil lawsuits, including defamation suits from writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of sexual assault. These civil cases continue to proceed independently of the criminal matters.
Despite Trump’s legal battles, as president, he would have the power to issue pardons, but self-pardoning has never been legally tested. However, his conviction related to the hush money payment could only be pardoned by the governor of New York, not by the president. Additionally, the ruling granting former presidents broad immunity may complicate future prosecutions, making it difficult for courts to use actions taken while Trump was in office as evidence in these ongoing legal cases.
