Donald Trump
1. New York hush-money case — convicted
- In May 2024, a New York jury found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
- The charges concerned records used to conceal reimbursement of a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.
- This remains a criminal conviction, although Trump has appealed it. Recent reporting says the appeal is ongoing.
2. Federal election-interference case — charged, then dismissed
- Trump was indicted over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, including conspiracy and obstruction-related offenses.
- The federal prosecution was ultimately dismissed after the 2024 Supreme Court presidential-immunity ruling and Trump’s return to the presidency. He was never convicted of these charges.
3. Classified-documents case — charged, then dismissed
- Federal prosecutors charged Trump with illegally retaining classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and obstructing government efforts to retrieve them.
- The case was dismissed in 2024 after the judge ruled that special counsel Jack Smith’s appointment was unlawful. Trump therefore was not convicted of those offenses.
4. Georgia election case
- Trump was indicted in Georgia over alleged efforts to interfere with the 2020 election.
- The prosecution subsequently collapsed after significant litigation over the prosecutor and was ultimately dismissed. Again, there was no criminal conviction.
Trump family
The situation is considerably different for Trump’s children and other family members. There is not a comparable criminal conviction of Trump’s immediate family for participating in the conduct underlying Trump’s 34-count conviction.
There have, however, been major civil and regulatory cases involving the Trump Organization and family members. Those should not be described as criminal convictions.
For example, Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and the Trump Organization were defendants in New York Attorney General Letitia James’s fraud litigation. That was a civil fraud case, not a criminal prosecution. Current litigation surrounding the Trump family business remains politically and legally contentious.
Bottom line
|
Person |
Criminal conviction? |
Major criminal charges/investigations? |
|
Donald Trump |
Yes รข€” 34 felony convictions |
Yes |
|
Donald Trump Jr. |
No comparable criminal conviction |
Has faced investigations/allegations, but distinguish these from convictions |
|
Eric Trump |
No comparable criminal conviction |
Has faced investigations/allegations, particularly concerning Trump business dealings |
|
Ivanka Trump |
No criminal conviction |
Was investigated in connection with Trump business matters; no criminal conviction |
|
Melania Trump |
No criminal conviction |
No comparable criminal prosecution |
Below is a chronological, source-checked overview of the major criminal charges, convictions, civil judgments, investigations, and significant allegations involving
Donald Trump and his immediate family. This blog is limited to major matters with meaningful legal or investigative significance, rather than thousands of routine lawsuits involving Trump businesses.
1970s–1990s: Early business controversies
1973–1975 — Federal housing discrimination case
Donald Trump / Trump Management
The U.S. Justice Department sued Trump, his father Fred Trump, and their company alleging racial discrimination against Black prospective tenants in New York apartments.
The case was settled in 1975 without an admission of wrongdoing. The settlement included requirements concerning fair-housing practices.
Status: Civil discrimination case; no criminal conviction.
1980s–1990s — Casino/business regulatory controversies
Donald Trump / Trump businesses
Trump’s Atlantic City casino businesses repeatedly faced regulatory scrutiny, lawsuits and disputes involving financing, disclosure, business practices and gambling-industry regulations.
These produced numerous civil/regulatory proceedings but not a criminal conviction of Donald Trump.
2000s
2009–2016 — Trump SoHo condominium allegations
Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and business partners
Buyers alleged that sales personnel falsely represented the percentage of units already sold at Trump SoHo, creating an artificial impression of demand.
The buyers ultimately settled, receiving roughly 90% of their deposits. Trump and the other defendants did not admit wrongdoing. A contemporaneous report also documented a Manhattan DA criminal investigation into the allegations.
Status: Civil settlement; alleged conduct was investigated criminally, but no Trump criminal conviction resulted.
2010–2016 — Trump University
Donald Trump
Former students alleged that Trump University used deceptive marketing and promised access to Trump-selected real-estate experts who would teach his investment methods.
The cases were settled for approximately $25 million, with the Ninth Circuit subsequently upholding the settlement.
Status: Civil litigation/settlement; no criminal conviction.
2016–2019: Trump Foundation and campaign-related investigations
2016 — Trump Foundation/campaign spending
Donald Trump / Donald Trump Foundation
The New York Attorney General’s office investigated whether Trump improperly used charitable foundation money for personal and political purposes.
The eventual court proceeding found that Trump had breached his fiduciary duty and improperly allowed the 2016 campaign to control a Foundation fundraiser.
In 2019, he was ordered to pay $2 million to charities and reimburse the Foundation for additional expenditures.
Status: Civil judgment. Not a criminal conviction.
2016–2019 — Russia/election investigation
Donald Trump / Trump campaign
The FBI and Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign.
Mueller’s investigation resulted in numerous criminal prosecutions of other people, but Trump himself was not criminally charged in the Russia investigation.
Mueller did not establish a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, while documenting numerous contacts and episodes involving Trump associates and Russian-linked individuals.
Status: Federal investigation; no criminal charge against Trump.
2018–2021 — Michael Cohen investigation
Donald Trump / Trump Organization
Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to federal crimes including campaign-finance violations involving the Stormy Daniels payment and other financial offenses.
Cohen testified that Trump directed the payment arrangements.
This investigation eventually became the basis of the Manhattan DA’s criminal case against Trump.
Status: Investigation leading to Trump’s later prosecution.
2019–2021: Trump Organization financial investigations
2019 — New York Attorney General civil investigation
Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and Trump Organization
New York Attorney General Letitia James opened a civil investigation after allegations that Trump Organization financial statements contained inflated asset valuations.
The investigation examined whether financial statements were manipulated to obtain better loans, insurance terms and other economic benefits.
The investigation eventually became the major New York civil-fraud lawsuit.
2019 — Trump Foundation dissolved
Donald Trump
The Trump Foundation was dissolved under court supervision following the New York proceedings.
Trump was required to pay $2 million for misuse of Foundation assets, including politically related expenditures.
Status: Civil judgment.
2021–2023: Criminal prosecution of Trump Organization
July 2021 — Trump Organization criminal charges
Trump Organization / Allen Weisselberg
The Manhattan DA charged two Trump Organization entities and CFO Allen Weisselberg in a tax-fraud scheme.
The prosecution alleged that executives provided untaxed compensation—including housing, automobiles and tuition—to executives while concealing the benefits from tax authorities.
Weisselberg ultimately pleaded guilty to 15 criminal counts.
December 2022 — Trump Organization convicted
A New York jury convicted Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corporation on all 17 criminal counts.
The convictions included:
- Scheme to defraud
- Conspiracy
- Criminal tax fraud
- Falsifying business records
The companies were fined approximately $1.6 million.
Important: Donald Trump personally was not a defendant in this criminal trial.
2022–2025: New York civil fraud case
September 2022 — Attorney General sues Trump family
New York Attorney General Letitia James sued:
- Donald Trump
- Donald Trump Jr.
- Eric Trump
- Trump Organization entities
- other Trump executives
The complaint alleged that Trump and the organization repeatedly inflated and manipulated property and financial valuations to obtain favorable financial terms.
Ivanka Trump was initially included but later removed from the case on statute-of-limitations grounds.
The AG’s investigation had specifically sought sworn testimony from Trump, Donald Jr. and Ivanka.
September 2023 — Judge finds Trump liable for fraud
Judge Arthur Engoron ruled before trial that Trump and other defendants had engaged in persistent fraud by manipulating financial statements.
The court found that financial statements substantially overstated the value of numerous properties and assets.
February 2024 — Approximately $464 million civil judgment
After the trial, Engoron ordered Trump and other defendants to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in disgorgement and interest.
The judgment against Trump was approximately $454 million, with additional amounts against Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.
August 2025 — Appeals court dramatically changes financial penalty
This is an important update to the earlier description of the case.
The New York Appellate Division did not overturn the core finding of fraud, but it vacated the massive disgorgement/financial penalty as an unconstitutional excessive fine. The court nevertheless left substantial nonmonetary restrictions in place.
The matter remains subject to further appellate litigation.
Status as of August 23, 2026:
Fraud liability remains a major judicial finding, while the huge monetary penalty has been vacated and is being contested in further appeals.
2023–2025: Criminal prosecutions of Donald Trump
April 2023 — Manhattan indictment: Stormy Daniels
Donald Trump
Trump was indicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
Prosecutors alleged that Trump falsified business records to conceal reimbursement of the $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.
Trump pleaded not guilty.
May 30, 2024 — Trump convicted on 34 felony counts
A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts.
This is the clearest criminal judgment against Trump personally.
The conviction concerned falsification of business records relating to the reimbursement and concealment of the Daniels payment.
January 10, 2025 — Trump sentenced
Judge Juan Merchan imposed an unconditional discharge.
That means:
- no imprisonment
- no probation
- no fine
- but the 34 felony convictions remain convictions
Trump has appealed.
Status: 34 felony convictions; appeal pending.
Federal classified-documents case
June 2023 — Federal indictment
Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump in Florida over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House.
The indictment charged Trump with federal offenses involving:
- unlawful retention of national-defense information
- obstruction of justice
- conspiracy/related obstruction conduct
The DOJ specifically described the indictment as charging felony violations of national-security laws and obstruction.
2024 — Case dismissed
The classified-documents prosecution was dismissed after the federal judge ruled that Special Counsel Jack Smith had been improperly appointed.
Status: Criminal charges were filed but Trump was never convicted in this case.
Federal January 6 / 2020 election case
August 2023 — Federal indictment
Trump was indicted on four federal counts relating to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The charges included allegations of:
- conspiracy to defraud the United States
- conspiracy to disenfranchise voters
- conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding
- obstruction/attempted obstruction
Special Counsel Smith explicitly described the indictment as concerning Trump’s efforts to prevent lawful certification of the 2020 election.
2024–2025 — Presidential immunity and dismissal
The Supreme Court’s presidential-immunity decision substantially altered the case.
After Trump returned to the presidency, the prosecution was dismissed because DOJ policy prevents prosecution of a sitting president.
Status: No conviction. Charges dismissed.
Georgia election case
August 2023 — Georgia indictment
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charged Trump and numerous co-defendants under Georgia’s racketeering law.
The indictment alleged a broad conspiracy to overturn Trump’s 2020 Georgia defeat, including allegations involving:
- pressure on Georgia officials
- the effort to replace legitimate electors
- false election claims
- attempts to obtain voting-system information
- the January 2, 2021 call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger
Trump pleaded not guilty.
2024–2025 — Georgia prosecution collapses
The case was progressively weakened by litigation concerning prosecutorial conduct and disqualification.
Ultimately, the Georgia prosecution was dismissed.
Status: No conviction.
Civil sexual-assault/defamation judgments
2023 — E. Jean Carroll
Donald Trump
Writer E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s and later defaming her.
A federal civil jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation and awarded Carroll $5 million.
This was a civil liability finding, not a criminal conviction.
January 2024 — $83.3 million defamation judgment
A second jury found Trump liable for defaming Carroll through statements he made after she publicly accused him.
The jury awarded:
- approximately $18.3 million compensatory damages
- $65 million punitive damages
Total: $83.3 million.
The judgment has survived major appellate challenges.
As of 2026, Trump continues to contest aspects of the Carroll judgments.
Other significant civil litigation involving Trump
2023 — Trump v. Hillary Clinton and others
Trump sued Hillary Clinton, the Democratic National Committee and others over allegations arising from the Russia investigation.
A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit and imposed approximately $937,989 in sanctions and attorneys’ fees, finding the suit frivolous and brought in bad faith.
Status: Civil sanctions, not criminal liability.
Immediate family members
Donald Trump Jr.
2018–2022 — Trump Organization financial investigation
Donald Trump Jr. was investigated and subpoenaed in connection with the New York AG’s examination of Trump Organization financial statements.
He provided testimony concerning Trump Organization financial matters.
2022–2025 — New York civil fraud case
Donald Trump Jr. was a defendant in the New York civil-fraud case.
The trial court found him liable along with his father and other defendants.
The 2025 appellate decision vacated the enormous disgorgement penalties but did not simply erase the underlying fraud findings.
Criminal conviction: None.
Eric Trump
2019–2022 — New York investigation
Eric Trump was subpoenaed and questioned concerning Trump Organization financial valuations and transactions.
The NY AG said he was directly involved in transactions under investigation.
2022–2025 — New York civil fraud case
Eric was a defendant and was found liable in the civil proceeding.
The 2025 appellate decision eliminated the monetary disgorgement awards while leaving the underlying fraud litigation substantially intact.
Criminal conviction: None.
Ivanka Trump
2019–2022 — New York financial investigation
Ivanka was investigated in connection with Trump Organization financial dealings and was subpoenaed for documents and testimony.
The New York AG said she had been directly involved in transactions under investigation.
2023 — Removed from New York civil fraud case
The court dismissed the claims against Ivanka on statute-of-limitations grounds.
Criminal conviction: None.
Melania Trump
There has been no comparable major criminal prosecution or civil fraud judgment against Melania Trump arising from the Trump Organization matters described above.
She has been involved in various ordinary civil disputes and business/trademark matters, but they do not belong in the same category as Trump’s criminal conviction or the major Trump Organization cases.
The Trump Organization
This deserves separate treatment because the corporation is legally distinct from Donald Trump personally.
2022 — Criminal conviction
The Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corporation were convicted on all 17 criminal counts in the New York tax-fraud case.
That is an actual criminal conviction of Trump-controlled corporate entities.
Donald Trump himself was not convicted in that case.
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