What documented legal findings have called Donald Trump corrupt?

1. Known civil liability in New York — “liable for fraud,” but penalties in flux

A New York state civil trial produced findings that the Trump Organization and members of the Trump family were liable for fraud; the Attorney General’s office characterized the appellate panel as nevertheless affirming “the well‑supported finding of the trial court: Donald Trump, his company, and two of his children are liable for fraud” even as the appeals court later threw out a $500 million penalty for procedural reasons ^[1]. That sequence means a trial court’s factual findings about deceptive valuations and business practices exist in the record, while appellate litigation has complicated the monetary remedy and finality ^[1].

2. Criminal convictions and indictments — what reporters and trackers record

Public case trackers and news summaries compile a complex picture of criminal charges and outcomes. Ballotpedia’s tally shows Trump faced 88 criminal counts across multiple cases and, as of Nov. 26, 2025, had been found guilty of 34 counts with 52 charges dismissed, and it documents the timeline of those prosecutions and appeals ^[2]. PBS/FRONTLINE and AP news updates summarize related criminal proceedings, sentencing actions and appellate activity, including cases where judges issued sentences or appellate courts reviewed jury findings ^{[3] [4]}.

3. Congressional investigators and staff reports allege large-scale self‑dealing

House Judiciary Democratic staff released a report titled “Trump, Crypto, and a New Age of Corruption,” alleging that the Trump family used the presidency to enrich itself, estimating crypto holdings as high as $11.6 billion and sales income over $800 million in a six‑month period in 2025; the report frames those findings as evidence of pay‑to‑play and corrupt foreign influence tied to the administration ^{[5] [6]}. That is a political committee staff product and reflects legislative oversight and partisan framing as well as factual allegations documented by the committee staff ^[5].

4. Pardons, clemency and administrative actions that critics call corrupt

Watchdog groups and reporting document that President Trump granted clemency or pardons to multiple politicians convicted of corruption, which critics say signals tolerance or reward for corrupt actors; Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington lists at least 16‑17 such clemencies including William J. “Billy” ­Rowland and others, which the group frames as part of a pattern ^[7]. Those are executive actions, not judicial findings of corruption against Trump, but they form part of broader criticisms of the administration’s approach to corruption enforcement ^[7].

5. Competing legal outcomes — liability, convictions, reversals and appeals

The public record shows competing outcomes: trial courts finding liability or juries convicting on criminal counts, followed by appeals that sometimes uphold, sometimes modify or vacate remedies ^{[1] [2]}. An appeals court’s decision to set aside a monetary penalty does not erase the trial court’s findings; conversely, acquittals or dismissals reported in some dockets underscore that final legal status varies by case and stage ^{[1] [2]}.

6. What available sources do not mention and remaining limits

Available sources do not mention a comprehensive single judicial ruling labeling Donald Trump himself as a sustained pattern of criminal corruption across every forum; instead the record is case‑specific—civil liability findings in New York, criminal convictions and appeals in other jurisdictions, and congressional staff investigations alleging corrupt use of office ^{[1] [2] [5]}. Sources provided here do not include full appellate opinions, Supreme Court docket entries beyond summaries, or final resolutions in every active case; many matters remain litigated or politically contested ^{[1] [2]}.

7. Bottom line for readers — documented findings vs. broader allegations

Documented legal findings include civil liability rulings tied to fraud in New York and criminal convictions recorded in public trackers and reporting ^{[1] [2]}. Broader allegations of systemic self‑dealing and corruption come from congressional committee reports and watchdog groups that compile evidence and interpret it politically ^{[5] [7]}. The legal record is mixed: specific courtroom findings coexist with appeals, vacated penalties and ongoing litigation; readers should treat each finding as case‑specific and follow appellate developments for final legal conclusions ^{[1] [2]}.