Former President Donald Trump finds himself in a season of discontent as the historic verdict by a federal jury confirms allegations of sexual abuse against him by E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s.
This rebuke not only impacts his reputation but also serves as a precursor to further legal challenges. As criminal and civil threats in Washington, Manhattan, and Atlanta converge, Trump faces legal consequences that he has managed to evade throughout his political career.
The narrative of his presidential comeback will likely be shaped by his efforts to evade criminal accountability for actions committed during his previous tenure in the White House.
With the first jury verdict delivered, including a $5 million award to Carroll, let’s explore what lies ahead in Trump’s ongoing legal battles.
Indictment watch in Fulton County
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is actively investigating the actions taken by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia, a state that President Joe Biden won by a narrow margin.
Willis has recently instructed local law enforcement to be prepared for potential indictments between July 11 and September 1.
Willis’ charging decisions are based on the work of a special grand jury that she convened to examine whether Trump violated state election laws in his pursuit of retaining power.
This special grand jury focused on Trump’s attempts to reverse the election outcome in Georgia and his broader efforts to undermine the election process in Washington.
Notably, the panel scrutinized Trump’s actions in pressuring state election officials to manipulate the vote count in his favor.
Although the special grand jury does not possess the authority to issue indictments, it provided recommendations regarding potential prosecutions earlier this year.
While Willis is not obligated to follow these recommendations, she stated in January that charging decisions were forthcoming.
Currently, she is required to present the evidence collected by the special grand jury, along with additional information gathered in subsequent months, to a traditional grand jury empowered to issue formal charges.
Pre-trial motions in the Manhattan hush-money case
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg made history when he obtained the first-ever criminal indictment of a former president, charging Trump with dozens of felony counts for allegedly cooking his company’s books to secure the silence of a porn star who accused him of an affair.
The judge overseeing the case recently asked lawyers for both sides to agree on a trial date in February or March 2024. In the meantime, expect a long series of pre-trial motions and bids by Trump to dismiss, delay or relocate the proceedings to another district or to federal court. The next major milestone is Aug. 8, when Trump is due to file expected motions to challenge the indictment.
Upcoming trial in New York civil case against the Trump Organization
Trump’s eponymous company has already been convicted of tax crimes by a Manhattan jury. But New York isn’t finished with the Trump Organization yet.
Attorney General Letitia James has brought a civil case accusing Trump and the company of misleading banks, insurers, and government agencies about the value of their assets in a scheme to obtain favorable tax treatment.
The case is scheduled to go to trial on Oct. 2. It could result in Trump losing his ability to do business in New York.
The federal probe of Trump’s bid to subvert the 2020 election
Special counsel Jack Smith has been on a tear. In recent weeks, he’s hauled in former Vice President Mike Pence to testify to a grand jury, as well as former top aides in the Trump White House — from social media adviser Dan Scavino to policy adviser Stephen Miller to personnel chief Johnny McEntee. Former chief of staff Mark Meadows is expected to appear before the grand jury imminently as well.
These interviews followed a series of intense, secretive legal battles in which Trump fought to stave off their testimony by asserting executive privilege. And in each case, he lost swiftly in both the district court and the court of appeals — setting new precedents for the separation of powers along the way.
The witnesses were key players in the final weeks of Trump’s administration, as he worked desperately to seize a second term despite losing the 2020 election to Biden. When his efforts failed, a mob of his supporters — assembled in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, at Trump’s call — bashed their way into the Capitol and sent Pence and lawmakers fleeing for their lives.
Of all the investigations Trump faces, the timeline here remains murkiest. Smith is still working to prevail in a long-running legal battle to access the communications of Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), whose phone was seized by the FBI last August. Several other sealed legal fights, which are still unresolved, could unlock additional troves of evidence for Smith and his team of prosecutors — each of which could prolong the investigation by identifying new leads.
The federal probe of Trump’s handling of classified documents
In addition to his investigation into the events of January 6th, Special Counsel John Smith is also actively looking into Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents discovered at his Mar-a-Lago estate more than a year after his presidency ended. This particular investigation appears to be more advanced compared to the January 6th probe, partly due to the smaller number of potential witnesses involved, many of whom have already provided testimony before Smith’s grand jury.
One notable recent appearance before the grand jury was made by Evan Corcoran, one of Trump’s own lawyers, who was compelled by the courts to testify despite Trump’s assertion of attorney-client privilege. Both insiders and those observing from outside Trump’s inner circle perceive this investigation as being closer to its conclusion compared to the January 6th probe.
Another lawsuit from E. Jean Carroll
Amidst the complex web of legal challenges surrounding Donald Trump, E. Jean Carroll may have another opportunity to bring him to court. She has filed a separate lawsuit against him for remarks he made about her in 2019.
This lawsuit is distinct from the case she recently won, which involved allegations of sexual assault and defamation based on comments Trump made in 2022.
The trial for the second lawsuit has faced delays as courts have deliberated on whether Trump can be sued personally for statements he made during his time as president.
