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Donald Trump’s criminal trial involving the payment of money to porn star Stormy Daniels was only the first of four criminal cases against the former president to go to trial.
A New York jury on Thursday found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. Judge Juan Merchán set July 11 as the sentencing date.
When Trump’s defense attorney, Todd Blanche, requested sentencing in mid-to-late July, he even referenced the other cases against the former president.
Trump, who is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, also faces charges stemming from special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into election interference and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, as well as charges of mishandling classified documents in Florida. .
Separately, Trump, 77, faces charges of election interference in Georgia.
In total, Trump faces 88 criminal charges, including the 34 of which he was convicted Thursday in New York. That leaves another 54 charges.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Trial dates have not yet been set for the other three criminal cases.
Donald Trump leaves the Manhattan criminal courtroom after being found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York
Trump classified documents case
In Florida, Trump faces one of two federal cases brought against him by special prosecutor Jack Smith.
The charges there relate to classified documents found at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property after he left office in 2021.
Trump’s classified documents case could be stalled during the election
The Justice Department charged Trump with 40 felonies, including willfully withholding classified documents, obstruction of justice and making false statements for allegedly trying to impede the investigation.
In August 2022, The FBI seized boxes containing documents with classified markings, mixed with other documents.
The trial was initially scheduled for May 20, but earlier this month, Trump-appointed District Judge Aileen Cannon delayed it indefinitely, citing the need to resolve pretrial issues in the case.
Federal election interference case
The other case brought by Smith in Washington, DC stems from Trump’s alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election, including the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Trump faces four charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction or attempted obstruction of an official proceeding and human rights conspiracy.
It is arguably the most serious of the four cases against the former president.
Special counsel Jack Smith filed an election interference case against Trump in Washington, D.C., and a case involving mishandling of classified documents in Florida.
District Judge Tanya Chutkan overseeing the case and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Trump is not immune from prosecution.
Immunity arguments were heard before the Supreme Court, but the country’s highest court is not expected to release its decision until the end of its term in late June or early July.
If the court sides with Trump, it could end the case. The justices appeared skeptical about full immunity during oral arguments, but their decision could lead to further delays.
Once the decision is released, the district judge has already assured Trump that he would have two months of pretrial preparation before the trial moves forward.
It suggests the earliest the case could happen is in September, just as the 2024 campaign season ramps up.
Georgia election interference case
Trump faces 10 charges in a separate election interference case in Georgia stemming from the 2020 election.
The former president and 18 co-defendants were accused of trying to reverse his loss in the state. Four of the co-defendants plead guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors.
The charges include violation of the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law.
Lawyers for Trump and the remaining 14 co-defendants have been fighting to have the case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis dismissed for alleged misconduct.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis Filed Election Interference Case Against Trump in Georgia
Willis had proposed a trial start date of August 5, but it was delayed due to an attempt to disqualify her for an affair she had with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Willis could continue prosecuting the case he filed as long as Wade resigned, which he did hours later.
However, a Georgia appeals court agreed to review the lower court’s ruling earlier this month.
The move is likely to delay the case.
