Donald Trump’s legal woes
Where election interference, classified documents and other cases stand
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign for the Republican nomination for re-election will be working against multiple trial dates in the months leading up to Election Day in November.
The first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus is Jan. 15. Trump has expressed confidence that he will ultimately be the Republican nominee to challenge President Joe Biden. In the meantime, he will be juggling court appearances in at least four criminal cases.
Trump is also monitoring challenges to his ballot eligibility in Colorado and Maine, based on an interpretation of the 14th Amendment that engaging in insurrection disqualifies someone from the presidency. Eleven more states have similar court challenges pending. Trump is expected to appeal.
Trump has maintained his innocence in the criminal cases against him and has worked to delay all proceedings until after the election.
Here is a look at the trials of Trump in 2024.
HUSH MONEY CASE Start date: March 25
Trump faces 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records in an alleged attempt to hide hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Manhattan, N.Y., District Attorney Alvin Bragg was the first to criminally indict the former president, bringing charges against him in March 2023. The indictment made Trump the first former president to face criminal charges.
The trial is tentatively slated to begin on March 25. Whether that date sticks remains to be seen as a federal election interference case against Trump in Washington is scheduled to begin earlier in March.
CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS Start date: May 20
The second indictment of Trump occurred in his home state of Florida, where he faces a 37-count federal indictment.
Special counsel Jack Smith announced the charges related to Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents in June 2023. The prosecutor alleges that Trump mishandled more than 100 classified documents, including national security secrets.
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach was searched by the FBI in August 2022. Agents recovered 15 boxes containing classified documents.
Trump’s aide Walter Nauta and a Mar-a-Lago maintenance worker, Carlos De Oliveira, have also been charged in the case.
This trial is scheduled to begin on May 20, but U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, has said she is open to adjusting the schedule.
CAPITOL RIOT, ELECTION INTERFERENCE Start date: March 4
Smith oversaw the investigation into Trump’s role in attempting to stop the certification of the 2020 election and incite the riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Trump is charged with conspiracy to de