Fact check: Has Donald Trump ever been formally charged with crimes involving minors?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the comprehensive analyses provided, Donald Trump has never been formally charged with crimes involving minors ^{[1] [2]}. Multiple fact-checking sources explicitly confirm that "there are no credible news reports about any child molestation charges against Trump" ^[2].

While there have been allegations and civil lawsuits involving claims of inappropriate behavior with minors, these did not result in formal criminal charges:

• Five former Miss Teen USA contestants alleged that Trump entered their dressing room in 1997 while they were changing, with the youngest being 15 years old ^[3]
• A lawsuit filed by Katie Johnson/Jane Doe claimed Trump raped her at age 13 at Jeffrey Epstein's residence in 1994, but this lawsuit was ultimately dismissed or withdrawn ^{[4] [3]}

The only formal legal finding against Trump involves E. Jean Carroll, where a jury found him liable for sexual abuse in a civil trial, but this case involved an adult woman, not a minor ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important contextual information about Trump's associations with individuals convicted of crimes against minors. Trump had documented relationships with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, both of whom faced serious charges related to sexual offenses involving minors ^[6]. However, Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein victim, stated she never saw Trump participate in any illicit acts ^[1].

The analyses reveal that while no credible evidence directly links Trump to Epstein's crimes involving minors ^[1], these associations have fueled speculation and conspiracy theories. Political opponents would benefit from promoting narratives that suggest criminal behavior involving minors, while Trump supporters and allies would benefit from emphasizing the lack of formal charges and the dismissal of related lawsuits.

False claims have circulated suggesting that prosecutors were reconsidering bringing child molestation charges against Trump, but fact-checkers confirm that The Associated Press never reported such a story ^[2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is relatively neutral and factual in nature, simply asking about formal charges. However, the framing could potentially be used to imply guilt by association or to suggest that the absence of formal charges doesn't mean no wrongdoing occurred.

The question also doesn't acknowledge the distinction between civil allegations (which have occurred) and formal criminal charges (which have not). This omission could lead to confusion about the legal status of various claims against Trump. Additionally, the question doesn't provide context about the numerous false reports and conspiracy theories that have circulated on this topic, which fact-checkers have repeatedly debunked ^[2].