Which presidents faced criminal accusations while in office and what were the charges?
Executive summary
A handful of U.S. presidents and former presidents have faced arrest, investigation, indictment or conviction at different times; the standout in recent years is Donald Trump, who was charged in multiple cases (88 counts across four indictments between 2023–2025, with 34 convictions reported as of Nov. 26, 2025) and convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York in May 2024 (sentenced to an unconditional discharge Jan. 10, 2025) [1] [2]. Earlier episodes include President Ulysses S. Grant’s 1872 arrest for speeding and the Watergate-era criminal convictions of many Nixon aides that led to Nixon’s resignation and Ford’s pre-emptive pardon [3] [4].
1. Presidents who were physically arrested or held: the Grant speeding ticket
The only president known to have been taken into custody was Ulysses S. Grant, who in 1872 was arrested for speeding in his horse-drawn carriage; that incident resulted in a fine and release rather than a lasting criminal prosecution [3] [4]. Contemporary legal literature treats Grant’s arrest as a singular historical oddity rather than a precedent for prosecuting a president for policy actions [4].
2. Criminal convictions and scandals tied to a presidency: Nixon’s entourage and the Watergate aftermath
The Watergate break-in and cover-up produced criminal charges and convictions for many officials in President Richard Nixon’s orbit, including aides, lawyers and Justice Department officials; Nixon resigned in 1974 and his successor, Gerald Ford, issued him a full pardon for any federal crimes he “committed or may have committed,” short-circuiting a post‑presidential prosecution [3] [5]. Sources emphasize that Nixon himself was never tried because of the pardon, though dozens of associates served prison time [3].
3. Closely investigated or nearly charged presidents: Clinton and the “close calls”
Reporting places Bill Clinton among presidents who came close to criminal jeopardy—his impeachment and associated legal exposures left him nearer to criminal referral than most occupants of the White House, though he did not face criminal indictment while president [3]. Available sources do not list a formal criminal charge against Clinton in office [3].
4. The Trump era: multiple indictments, counts, convictions and legal complexity
Donald Trump is the central example in modern American history of criminal cases tied to a president or former president. Between 2023 and 2025 he was indicted in four separate criminal matters — two federal and two state — originally totaling up to 88 counts, and by Nov. 26, 2025 had been reported as convicted on 34 counts and had 52 charges dismissed [1]. The New York prosecution charged 34 felony counts of falsifying business records tied to payments to Stormy Daniels; a jury convicted him May 30, 2024, and a judge issued an unconditional discharge Jan. 10, 2025 after sentencing was delayed [2] [6]. Other Trump matters included federal indictments related to classified documents and a four‑count federal case alleging conspiracy and obstruction around the 2020 election; Georgia prosecutors brought state charges alleging efforts to overturn the 2020 result [7] [6] [8].
5. Immunity, timing and the practical limits of prosecuting a sitting president
Legal and judicial developments show sharp disputes about whether a sitting president may be criminally prosecuted. The Department of Justice historically has treated prosecution of a sitting president as impermissible; courts and scholars debate whether immunity covers official acts but not unofficial acts — a question the Supreme Court addressed in Trump‑related proceedings, ruling that some presidential acts may be immune while others are not [6] [9]. These rulings, plus DOJ policy and practical concerns about compelling a sitting president to stand trial, shaped prosecutors’ strategies [6] [9].
6. What counts as “facing criminal accusations”: investigations vs. charges
Sources differentiate broad investigations (which can implicate presidents in wrongdoing) from grand jury indictments and convictions. Investigations into presidential conduct (for example, classified documents or efforts to subvert an election) can lead to federal special counsel probes or state grand juries; indictments have been rarer historically but became prominent in the Trump era [7] [6] [8]. Available sources do not offer a full list of every president ever investigated; they highlight a few clear episodes (Grant, Nixon-era prosecutions of aides, Clinton’s close calls, and Trump’s multiple indictments) [3] [4] [7].
7. Competing perspectives and political context
Reporting and legal commentary frame these episodes variously: some observers and organizations emphasize rule‑of‑law principles and argue no person — including a president — should be above criminal process, while others warn about politicization and the risks of incapacitating the presidency through prosecution [10] [9]. In the Trump cases, prosecutors argued criminal accountability was necessary; critics said prosecutions were partisan and impractical while a president is in office [10] [9]. Readers should note that many actions labeled “accusations” in public debate remained contested in courtrooms and political arenas [1] [6].
Limitations: this report draws only on the supplied sources and does not attempt an exhaustive historical catalogue beyond those items discussed in them; available sources do not mention every investigation, allegation or internal DOJ opinion that may exist regarding other presidents [4] [3].