Fact check: What are the current charges against Donald Trump in active cases?

Executive summary: Two state and two federal criminal matters are described across the materials: a New York state prosecution that ended in a felony conviction for falsifying business records tied to a 2016 hush‑money payment, a pending New York sentencing date, a federal Jan. 6 election‑interference indictment prosecuted by Special Counsel Jack Smith, and at least one federal or state matter alleging improper retention of classified documents and related obstruction allegations. Dates, immunity arguments, and parallel civil suits complicate the legal landscape and could affect timing and outcomes. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

1. New York conviction and looming sentence: A hush‑money prosecution that reached a verdict

The clearest criminal outcome in the record is a New York state graft: Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records over a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels that prosecutors said was intended to influence the 2016 election. The case proceeded to conviction and the defendant was scheduled for sentencing on January 10, 2025, creating an immediate, concrete legal consequence distinct from ongoing federal matters and civil suits. This is the only matter in the dataset that culminated in a guilty verdict and a fixed sentencing date. ^[1]

2. Federal Jan. 6 election‑interference indictment: Immunity fight front and center

The federal prosecution led by Special Counsel Jack Smith focuses on efforts to overturn the 2020 election and includes an active immunity dispute that could shape whether and how Trump is tried. A major immunity brief was unsealed in July 2025, arguing for limits on presidential immunity and counterarguments that some actions were official and thus shielded. That brief and its timing are central to the federal case’s trajectory because the Supreme Court’s earlier rulings and subsequent filings could narrow or broaden immunity, changing the scope of charges that proceed to trial. ^[2]

3. Classified‑documents and obstruction allegations: One of the federal threads

Analysts describe one of the active federal matters as involving illegal retention of classified documents and obstruction-related allegations. The materials frame this as a separate indictment from the Jan. 6 case, part of the multiplicity of federal exposures Trump faces. The documents case centers on national‑security records and procedures for handling them, and prosecutors have alleged both mishandling and efforts to impede investigators, which are distinct legal theories from the election‑interference charges. The interplay between these counts and immunity claims remains a key variable. ^[3]

4. The two‑state, two‑federal summary: How the quartet of matters is described

Multiple summaries in the record state there are four active cases overall: two federal indictments and two state indictments, covering the hush‑money scheme, election interference, classified‑documents retention, and other alleged offenses including fraud. This framing highlights that Trump faces parallel criminal exposures across jurisdictions with differing procedural rules, standards for evidence, and potential penalties, making the legal picture fragmented and subject to separate appeals and timelines. The existence of multi‑jurisdictional prosecutions multiplies venues and legal strategies. ^[3]

5. What is not a criminal charge: Civil suits and unrelated proceedings

Several entries document high‑profile civil filings and unrelated criminal trials, which are not criminal charges against Trump. Examples include a $15 billion defamation lawsuit Trump filed against the New York Times and Penguin Random House, and litigation alleging White House influence over agencies. Also, an unrelated trial involving an accused attempted assassin of Trump is ongoing, but that defendant’s case does not alter the charges that Trump personally faces. Distinguishing civil suits and third‑party criminal trials from Trump’s own indictments is crucial for accurate counting. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7]}

6. The Supreme Court and immunity: A legal wildcard for sentencing and prosecutions

The Supreme Court’s recent intervention on presidential immunity has already partially sided with Trump in at least one matter and is the subject of new requests to extend immunity broadly. Because the Court’s rulings could limit prosecutions for official acts, pending arguments and rulings on immunity directly affect both whether charges proceed and whether sentences imposed by state courts might be stayed or vacated. Observers note that the immunity question could reach dispositive impact on both the Jan. 6 prosecution and the practical effect of the New York sentence. ^{[8] [2]}

7. Timelines, evidence battles, and political ripple effects: What to watch next

Key near‑term milestones include the January 10, 2025 sentencing in New York, continuations of the federal immunity litigation, and motions in the classified‑documents matter. Expect intense legal fights over evidence, witness testimony, and executive‑act boundaries, with appeal strategies already anticipated. These are not solely legal events; they carry political consequences for a candidacy and governing power, with courts and prosecutors often under public and political scrutiny as cases proceed. Stakeholders on all sides frame developments through both legal and political lenses. ^{[1] [2] [8]}

8. Bottom line and open questions: Separate charges, separate paths

The materials establish that multiple criminal matters are active against Trump, with at least one finalized by conviction in New York and others still in pretrial or litigation phases. Critical unresolved issues include the ultimate effect of Supreme Court immunity rulings, the sequencing of trials across jurisdictions, and whether civil litigation or political developments will alter prosecutorial priorities. Tracking filings, docket dates, and appellate rulings will be essential to see which charges move to trial, which survive immunity tests, and what penalties—if any—are ultimately imposed. ^{[1] [2] [8] [3]}