In a series of legal developments, former President Donald Trump continues to face a range of criminal cases, with some being delayed and others dismissed. These recent events have added to the ongoing legal battles surrounding the controversial figure.
In April, Trump paid a $92 million bond while appealing a guilty verdict in a defamation case. The following month, he posted a $175 million bond while appealing a civil fraud lawsuit. However, the tide seemed to turn in his favor when the Supreme Court ruled that presidents are immune from certain legal actions while in office, complicating the legal proceedings against him.
More recently, Judge Aileen Cannon in Florida dismissed the Justice Department’s classified documents case against Trump. This decision came shortly after a failed assassination attempt against him, which may have influenced the judge’s ruling. Additionally, an appeal hearing for Trump’s racketeering and election fraud case in Georgia was postponed until after the November election. The case, which alleges Trump and 18 co-defendants sought to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia, follows a two-year investigation by the Fulton County District Attorney’s office.
Trump, who has pleaded not guilty, has sought to remove Fulton County DA Fani Willis from the case due to her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. While the relationship was deemed not to be a conflict of interest by Judge Scott McAfee, it was acknowledged to create an “appearance of impropriety.” Wade ultimately stepped down, allowing Willis to remain on the case. Trump has appealed Willis’ involvement, and arguments were originally scheduled for October 4 but have now been moved to December 5.
These legal battles in Fulton County are just one aspect of the four criminal cases Trump is currently facing. Special Counsel Jack Smith is investigating Trump’s actions leading up to the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and has indicted him on charges related to the effort to overturn the election results. Smith is also appealing Judge Cannon’s dismissal of the classified documents case in Florida.
In a separate case in New York, Trump was found guilty by a jury of his peers on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Sentencing, originally scheduled for July 11, has been rescheduled to at least September 18, as Judge Juan Merchan considers the potential impact of an immunity case.
