Donald Trump arraignment: What are the charges listed in the indictments of the former president?
Trump, the first former president to be criminally charged, is facing four criminal cases, a total of 91 felonies, in both state and federal jurisdictions.
Donald Trump made history in April by becoming the first US president, sitting or former, to be indicted on criminal charges. Since the first 34 felony charges were handed down by a Manhattan grand jury, three other grand juries have felt that the evidence presented to them required that they do the same.
Trump is now facing a total of 91 felony charges across four criminal cases in both state and federal jurisdictions. The cases against the former president are for illegal financial transactions, illegally withholding classified documents, his involvement in the violent assault on the US Capitol and attempting to illegally overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election.
Trump has pleaded innocence in all the cases. Here’s a look at what he has been charged with…
Hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels
The first criminal charges brought against Trump were in his hometown of New York City. There he was arraigned on 34 felony counts handed down by a grand jury convened by District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
The case revolves around hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels through his then-attorney Michael Cohen prior to the 2016 election. The transaction was done in order to keep her from speaking about an affair Trump had with her 10 years before as not to hurt his chances in the presidential election.
Trump charged with illegally withholding classified documents
In June, Special Council Jack Smith unsealed 37 felony indictments handed down by a grand jury in Florida related to the former president illegally withholding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort. In July 3 more superceding charges were brought prompted by one of the codefendants in the case, IT staffer Yuscil Taveras, cooperating with prosecutors. The charges include willful retention of national defense information in violation of the Espionage Act along with obstruction and false statements to hinder the investigation and recovery of the sensitive information.
Trump charged for involvement in January 6 Insurrection
The results of the 2020 presidential election determined Joe Biden as the clear victor. However, Trump and his advisors began a wide-ranging campaign to overturn the legitimate results through claiming election fraud in several states that Biden won. As well a fake elector scheme was put into motion with the intention of having then-Vice President Mike Pence give Congress the power to determine who would be the next president.
As laid out by the January 6 Investigation by Congress, when all other avenues failed, including getting Pence to cooperate, a mob was sent to the Capitol to interrupt the ceremonial but official counting of the Electoral College votes.
Special Council Smith is also overseeing the criminal investigation into those events. A grand jury in Washington DC handed down an indictment on 4 felony charges including one felony count each of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Trump interference in the Georgia election in 2020
The most recent charges to be brought against Trump came out of a grand jury summoned by Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis. The former president is charged under the state’s RICO laws along with 18 codefendants. Trump personally faces 13 felony counts including racketeering, soliciting a public official to violate their oath of office along with conspiracy to commit forgery and impersonating a public official. As well as counts for false statements and writings, filing false documents and conspiracy to commit those acts.