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What crimes did Donald trump commit
Executive summary
Donald Trump has faced multiple criminal prosecutions and at least one conviction in state court: a Manhattan jury convicted him on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush‑money payments in May 2024 (conviction affirmed by Judge Juan Merchan in January 2025), though sentencing and post‑conviction litigation have continued [1] [2] [3]. Separately, federal special‑counsel prosecutions into election subversion and classified documents were dropped in late 2024/early 2025 after his 2024 election victory, with prosecutors saying dismissal followed Department of Justice policy against indicting a sitting president [4] [5] [2].
1. The New York “hush‑money” case — what he was charged with and what happened
Manhattan prosecutors charged Trump in 2023 with falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment tied to Stormy Daniels, alleging the records were altered to hide the purpose of the disbursement; a jury found him guilty on 34 counts in May 2024 [6] [1]. Judge Juan Merchan later upheld the conviction against a post‑trial challenge and handled sentencing matters into early 2025, while appellate litigation and questions about federal‑court jurisdiction and presidential immunity continued afterward [2] [3].
2. Federal special‑counsel probes into election conduct and classified documents — dropped, not fully adjudicated
Special Counsel Jack Smith brought federal cases addressing (a) efforts to overturn the 2020 election and (b) alleged mishandling of classified documents; after Trump’s 2024 victory Smith moved to dismiss those prosecutions, citing DOJ policy that long‑standingly disfavors indicting a sitting president — and characterized dismissals as not reflecting the merits of the underlying investigations [4] [5]. Smith’s office said it “stands fully behind” the merits of the prosecutions even as it sought dismissal without prejudice, meaning the cases could, in theory, be revived later [4] [5].
3. State‑level matters beyond New York — Georgia and prosecutorial disputes
Trump faced a criminal case in Georgia related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election; that prosecution was paused and later embroiled in disputes over the local prosecutor — including a Georgia Court of Appeals decision to disqualify the district attorney in December 2024 and ongoing questions about who would continue the prosecution [1]. Reporting shows the Georgia matter has moved through disqualification decisions and efforts to find alternate prosecutors [1].
4. Conviction, immunity questions, and appellate reviews — competing legal outcomes
Even after the New York conviction, courts and appeals have introduced uncertainty: federal courts have been asked to reconsider how Supreme Court rulings on presidential immunity affect state prosecutions, and appellate panels have at times ordered further review of whether cases belong in federal court — creating an active litigation landscape rather than a final, uncontested end to all legal exposure [3] [2]. Special Counsel Smith’s filings also emphasize DOJ policy constraints rather than a finding that charges lacked merit [4] [5].
5. What prosecutors alleged versus Trump’s defenses and political context
Prosecutors in the Manhattan case alleged intentional falsification of records to conceal an allegedly campaign‑sensitive payment [6]. Trump and his lawyers have framed many cases as politically motivated, and in the federal matter Smith himself acknowledged in filings that dismissal followed after consultation with DOJ leadership because of policy about sitting presidents — a point Trump’s team has used to argue political targeting [4] [5]. Media outlets and legal observers have presented both the strength of prosecutorial assertions and the limits imposed by presidential immunity doctrines [2] [3].
6. Broader implications and limitations of available reporting
Available sources document the New York conviction and the dismissal of certain federal cases tied to Trump’s election to the presidency, but they do not assert that every allegation reported elsewhere is proven or provide exhaustive resolution of all civil claims, lawsuits, or uncharged allegations [1] [4]. Sources note ongoing appeals, immunity questions, and the possibility that some dropped federal charges could be refiled after he leaves office — meaning legal exposure remains fluid [5] [3].
7. Bottom line for readers
Reportedly, the clearest criminal adjudication in the available reporting is the May 2024 New York conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records tied to a hush‑money scheme [1] [6]. Other high‑profile federal prosecutions were dropped after Trump’s 2024 election, with prosecutors stressing that dismissal reflected DOJ policy toward sitting presidents rather than a statement about the underlying evidence [4] [5]. Readers should expect continued litigation, appeals, and jurisdictional fights; the public record in these sources shows active legal processes and contrasting claims rather than a single settled account [3] [2].