Trump’s four criminal cases are now all up in the air ahead of the election.
Topline
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon threw out former President Donald Trump’s criminal charges for allegedly mishandling White House documents on Monday—the latest blow to the criminal cases against the ex-president, as all four are now facing significant issues or delays.Key Facts
Classified Documents Case: Cannon, a Trump appointee, dismissed the 40 felony charges against the ex-president on Monday, ruling Special Counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed—though prosecutors are expected to appeal her ruling to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and try to revive the case.
Federal Election Case: Trump’s federal case for trying to overturn the 2020 election is expected to resume on Friday after the Supreme Court ruled the ex-president can’t be charged for anything involving his “official acts” as president—after being on pause since December—though U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan will first have to determine what in the indictment constitutes “unofficial acts” that can still be charged before the case can go to trial, likely delaying the trial and narrowing the scope of Trump’s indictment.
Hush Money Case: While Trump has already been convicted on 34 felony counts stemming from a hush money payment made ahead of the 2016 election, his sentencing in the case was delayed until September after Trump challenged the verdict under the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling, arguing some evidence should not have been used at trial.
Georgia Election Case: Trump’s criminal case in Georgia for trying to overturn the 2020 election is on pause as an appeals court considers whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified over an allegedly improper relationship with prosecutor Nathan Wade—which they won’t hear arguments on until October, meaning it’s all but certain the case won’t go to trial until next year.
