What criminal indictments and charges have been filed against Donald Trump, and what are their current statuses?
Executive summary
Four separate criminal cases were filed against Donald J. Trump between March and August 2023—two state prosecutions (Manhattan, New York and Fulton County, Georgia) and two federal prosecutions (Southern District of Florida and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia)—collectively accounting for roughly 88–91 charges across reporting outlets, with outcomes varying from conviction to dismissal or ongoing appeals [1] [2] [3]. The Manhattan hush-money case produced a felony conviction on all 34 counts in May 2024, while the two federal cases led by special counsel Jack Smith were later dropped in late 2024 amid litigation over prosecutorial authority and immunity questions; the Georgia RICO-style state case remains active but narrowed [1] [4] [5] [6].
1. Manhattan hush‑money trial — “34 Counts, Guilty Verdict”
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump in March 2023 with 34 counts of first‑degree falsifying business records tied to payments allegedly made to suppress negative stories during the 2016 campaign; prosecutors argued the falsified entries concealed an underlying unlawful scheme to corrupt the election [1] [7]. That trial began with jury selection on April 15, 2024, and on May 30, 2024 a jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts, making him a convicted felon under state law [1] [8]. The case remains subject to appeals and post‑verdict legal maneuvers, and reporting notes defense arguments and political reactions that frame the prosecution as partisan, while prosecutors and advocates argue the verdict enforces ordinary criminal law against the wealthy and powerful [7] [3].
2. Florida classified‑documents case — “40+ Federal Counts, Superseding Indictments, Ultimately Dropped”
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida indicted Trump in June 2023 on scores of counts (reported as roughly 37–40 by different outlets) alleging mishandling of classified documents and obstruction, with a superseding indictment later adding defendants and counts tied to conduct at Mar‑a‑Lago [2] [5] [9]. Special Counsel Jack Smith led that probe; the complex litigation over access to classified materials, discovery, and related motions unfolded into 2024, and reporting indicates Smith announced he was dropping the classified‑documents case on November 25, 2024 [4]. Coverage emphasizes that prosecutorial discretion and the Supreme Court’s immunity framework influenced the course and resolution of the federal matters [10] [4].
3. D.C. Jan. 6 election‑interference case — “Four Federal Counts, Superseding Indictment, Litigation, and Dismissal”
The Washington, D.C. prosecution, brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith in August 2023, charged Trump with multiple counts tied to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election—initially four counts including conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an official proceeding—and included a superseding indictment as prosecutors refined their legal theory [1] [10]. The case became entangled with immunity disputes that reached the Supreme Court and lower‑court remands; reporting from Lawfare and CNN shows the district court later dismissed or the special counsel dropped the D.C. case amid that litigation, with Smith announcing the decision on November 25, 2024 [5] [4]. Critics argued the prosecution risked criminalizing political tactics, while advocates said accountability was essential to protect democratic norms [10] [4].
4. Fulton County, Georgia — “RICO‑Style State Case, Counts Reduced but Active”
A Fulton County grand jury returned an indictment in August 2023 that initially listed 41 counts and named Trump and 18 co‑defendants under Georgia’s RICO statute and related charges alleging efforts to subvert Georgia’s 2020 results [11] [8]. Judges have since pared certain charges—some counts were dismissed or modified—and reporting notes the defendant list and counts have shifted, with some filings narrowing Trump’s exposure to roughly a lower double‑digit number of felony counts in state court [3] [8]. Defense teams have pursued constitutional challenges, including presidential‑immunity arguments, and the court calendar and appeals could push the matter beyond election cycles, according to reporting that highlights both prosecutorial intent and political implications [7] [6].
5. Where the numbers and legal posture stand now — “Conviction, Dismissals, Appeals, and Ongoing Litigation”
Taken together, outlets report roughly 88–91 criminal counts across the four cases, with the concrete outcome of a 34‑count conviction in New York and the special‑counsel federal indictments ultimately dropped in late 2024 amid complex immunity and prosecutorial considerations; the Georgia prosecution remains active but narrowed and subject to interlocutory appeals and motions [2] [1] [4] [6]. Reporting reflects competing narratives—prosecutors emphasizing rule‑of‑law accountability and critics alleging political targeting—and the record shows the legal fight will continue in appeals and state court proceedings, with some facts and procedural outcomes still evolving beyond the scope of available sources [7] [8].