Indictments Flashcards
Trump fined $355 million and barred from his NY business temporarily.
In a significant legal setback for Donald Trump, Judge Arthur Engoron issued a 92-page order late Friday, demanding Trump to pay $355 million (likely rising to over $450 million with interest). New York Attorney General Letitia James praised the penalties as measures to prevent further fraud. Trump plans to appeal, asserting higher courts will reverse Engoron’s ruling. The Trump Organization now faces legal, financial, and personnel challenges, while Trump’s costly presidential campaign coincides with ongoing legal battles. The appeal process could extend for years, impacting Trump’s business liquidity and potentially necessitating asset sales. The payment order stems from a lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General, alleging that Donald Trump and his children used the Trump Foundation for self-dealing and coordinated unlawful political activities. Self-dealing refers to using charitable funds for personal benefit, and coordinated unlawful political activities involve using the foundation’s resources for political purposes, which is prohibited for tax-exempt organizations. The lawsuit claimed that the Trump Foundation engaged in a pattern of persistent illegal conduct, including transactions that benefited Trump personally and politically. The court found that Trump had violated his fiduciary duties as the head of the foundation, leading to the financial penalties and restrictions imposed by the judge. The judge also imposed restrictions on Trump and his sons’ ability to lead their businesses or seek financing temporarily.
Trump’s trials throw a wrench in his campaign schedule as Biden gets busy
The Biden campaign aims to turn the tables on Donald Trump’s previous criticism of Joe Biden’s sparse campaign schedule, now highlighting Trump’s legal obligations and limited campaign events, as Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris ramp up their campaigning efforts across key battleground states, contrasting Trump’s two rallies post-Super Tuesday with his previous 2016 campaign activity, while Trump’s campaign emphasizes cost-saving measures and maintains a sizable war chest to compete with Democratic fundraising efforts. While the Trump campaign hasn’t explicitly stated that they are cutting costs due to his legal troubles, there is speculation that their financial strategy may be influenced by his legal challenges. Trump’s extensive legal obligations, including upcoming trials and court appearances, could potentially impact his campaign’s budget allocation and resource management decisions, leading to a more cautious approach in spending. Donald Trump faces several upcoming trials and court appearances:
Trial over a hush payment to Stormy Daniels: Jury selection for this trial is scheduled to begin on April 15.
Trial concerning classified documents: This trial is scheduled for May 20.
Trial related to 2020 election interference in Georgia: The start date proposed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is August 5.
Federal election interference case in Washington, D.C.: No specific date has been scheduled for this trial.
These trials represent significant legal challenges for Trump and could impact his availability and focus during the campaign period.
Special counsel slams idea that Trump could claim classified docs as personal records
Special counsel Jack Smith responded to Judge Aileen Cannon overseeing former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case, urging her to reject Trump’s claim of personal ownership over the materials. Smith argued that accepting such a claim would be “pure fiction” and “meritless,” citing evidence gathered, including interviews with Trump’s own Presidential Records Act representatives and high-ranking White House officials who never heard Trump designate records as personal. Smith’s office warned that entertaining this interpretation of the Presidential Records Act could lead to appellate review and cited previous rulings by the 11th Circuit overturning Cannon’s decisions. Trump, who pleaded not guilty to charges related to handling classified materials, faces accusations of refusing to return documents containing classified information and obstructing government efforts to retrieve them. The special counsel’s filing revealed communications between Trump’s team and Judicial Watch’s president, Tom Fitton, suggesting Trump acknowledged the records as presidential rather than personal. Additionally, Trump’s team proposed jury instructions guaranteeing his acquittal, asserting his authority to classify and declassify information as president. Trump’s trial is scheduled for May 20, but a delay is expected following recent arguments from both sides.
