The Trump Trials
Welcome to Lawfare’s coverage of the Trump trials. Here, you will be able to find our coverage of the criminal indictments against former President Donald Trump in the Southern District of Florida, Washington, D.C., and Fulton County, Georgia.
Our ongoing Trump trials coverage includes our Trump Section 3 Disqualification tracker, Lawfare Live: "Trump's Trials and Tribulations" series, the Jan. 6 Project, and a calendar of important trial dates.
And find Lawfare’s Docket Watches with regularly updated court filings and primary source documents from each trial at the links below.
A Guide to Trump's Trials
Trump Prosecuted in New York
On March 30, 2023, former President Donald Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury in New York City on:
- 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree (Penal Law §175.10)
The trial for The People for the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump started on April 15, 2024. On May 30, 2024, a Manhattan jury found former President Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
Trump Prosecuted in the Southern District of Florida
On June 8, 2023, former President Donald Trump and his aide Waltine Nauta were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida. A superseding indictment was unsealed on July 27, 2023, which charged an additional defendant, Carlos De Oliveira. The indictment charges Trump and his co-defendants with:
- 32 counts of willfully retaining national defense information (18 U.S.C. § 793(e))
- 5 counts of obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1512)
- 1 count of interfering with a federal investigation (18 U.S.C § 1519)
- 4 counts of making false statements (18 U.S.C. § 1001(a))
On July 15, 2024, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the federal indictment against the former president, ruling that Special Counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed and funded. Smith appealed the decision to the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
Trump Prosecuted in the District of Columbia
On Aug. 1, 2023, former President Donald Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. on:
- 1 count of corruptly obstructing an official proceeding ( 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2))
- 1 count of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding ( 18 U.S.C. § 1512(k))
- 1 count of conspiracy to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. § 371)
- 1 count of conspiracy against rights (18 U.S.C. § 241)
The original trial date for United States of America v. Donald J. Trump of March 4, 2024 was vacated by Judge Chutkan while the Supreme Court heard the former president's immunity claim. On Aug. 2, 2024, the Supreme Court remanded the case back to the district court.
Trump Prosecuted in Fulton County, Georgia
On Aug. 14, 2023, former President Trump, along with 18 co-defendants, were indicted by a grand jury in Fulton County on:
- 1 count of violating the Georgia RICO Act (Ga. Code § 16-14) for allegedly conspiring and endeavoring "to conduct and participate in, directly and indirectly, such enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity *
- 6 counts of solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer (Ga. Code § 16-4-7 and § 16-10-1)***
- 1 count of conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer (Ga. Code § 16-4-8 and § 16-10-23)*
- 2 counts of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree (Ga. Code § 16-4-8 and § 16-9-1(b))**
- 1 count of impersonating a public officer (Ga. Code § 16-10-23)
- 2 counts of forgery in the first degree (Ga. Code § 16-9-1(b))
- 11 counts of false statements and writings (Ga. Code § 16-10-20)**
- 2 counts of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings (Ga. Code § 16-4-8 and § 16-10-20)**
- 1 count of criminal attempt to commit filing false documents (Ga. Code § 16-4-1 and § 16-10-20.1(b)(1))
- 1 count of conspiracy to commit filing false documents (Ga. Code § 16-4-8 and § 16-10-20.1(b)(1))*
- 2 counts of criminal attempt to commit influencing witnesses (Ga. Code § 16-4-1 and § 16-10-93(b)(1)(A))
- 1 count of criminal attempt to commit false statements and writings (Ga. Code § 16-4-1 and § 16-10-20)
- 1 count of filing false documents (Ga. Code § 16-10-20.1(b)(1))*
- 1 count of conspiracy to commit solicitation of false statements and writings (Ga. Code § 16-4-8, § 16-4-7, and § 16-10-20)
- 1 count of influencing witnesses (Ga. Code § 16-10-93(b)(1)(A))
- 2 counts of conspiracy to commit election fraud (Ga. Code § 21-2-603, Ga. Code § 21-2-566, and Ga. Code § 21-2-574)
- 1 count of conspiracy to commit computer theft (Ga. Code § 16-4-8 and § 16-9-93(a))
- 1 count of conspiracy to commit computer trespass (Ga. Code § 16-4-8 and § 16-9-93(b))
- 1 count of conspiracy to commit computer invasion of privacy (Ga. Code § 16-4-8 and § 16-9-93(c))
- 1 count of conspiracy to defraud the state (Ga. Code § 16-10-21)
- 1 count of perjury (Ga. Code § 16-10-70(a))
Read more
Four of the co-defendants, Scott Hall, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, and Jenna Ellis, have pleaded guilty.
A trial date for Donald Trump and the remaining defendants has not yet been set.
* indicates Trump was charged with this count
Lawfare Live: Trump's Trials and Tribulations
Each week, Lawfare contributors sit down for a live discussion of recent developments in the various criminal and civil cases against former President Donald Trump. Find the most recent livestream here:
Click here to view previous episodes of "Trump's Trials and Tribulations"
The Trump Trials Calendar
Recent Lawfare Coverage of the Trump Trials
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Lawfare Live: Trump's Trials and Tribulations, Oct. 24
Join the Lawfare team for a discussion of the trials of Donald Trump. -
Lawfare Live: Trump's Trials and Tribulations, Oct. 10
Join the Lawfare team tomorrow for a discussion of the trials of Donald Trump. -
Lawfare Daily: Trump's Trials and Tribulations Weekly Round-up (October 3, 2024)
Listen to this week's "Trump's Trials and Tribulations." -
Lawfare Live: Trump's Trials and Tribulations, Oct. 3
Join the Lawfare team today for a discussion of the trials of Donald Trump. -
The Relative Insignificance of the Immunity Holding in Trump v. United States (and What Is Really Important in the Decision)
A Constitution Day speech at the University of Michigan Law School -
Lawfare Live: Trump's Trials and Tribulations, Sept. 19
Join the Lawfare team tomorrow for a discussion of the trials of Donald Trump.