Trump's election victory has dramatically rewritten the legal landscape. With his presidency, he is protected from prosecution, quite possibly through his term. Legal battles that once seemed to loom large over him are precarious and may be swept away. But such complicated cases, together with the legal ways, a lot of those battles will be delayed for several years.
Where the law meets politics and power, the crossroads will continue to be played out as Trump prepares to make his way back to the White House, with the nation watching closely to see how his legal entanglements evolve.
Trump Wins Election: What Happens to His Legal Cases?
Donald Trump, steadfast in a navy suit and red tie, has won the 2024 presidential election in history as the first person with a felony conviction to assume the highest office in the land. But what happens to the numerous criminal cases still hanging over his head?
Trump enters the White House carrying a record number of unresolved legal battles. Each could abruptly take sharp turns in several directions, some dismissed and others smothered in delaying tactics. Here is a breakdown of what to watch for from the four major legal challenges he faces.
1. New York Hush-Money Conviction
Already in New York, Trump had been convicted of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records associated with a hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He was supposed to be sentenced in September but was then pushed back to November 26th.
Yet, against the backdrop of his status as a first offender and at his age, legal experts say an active jail time is very unlikely. Should he get a sentence demanding that he go to prison, Trump's attorneys would assuredly appeal, citing in their argument that such a term would make it impossible for him to execute his presidential duties.
"The appellate process could stretch on for years," said former Brooklyn prosecutor Julie Rendelman.
2. The January 6 Case
Another major legal challenge is the charges brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith against Trump for attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The case has been left in limbo after a Supreme Court ruling this summer said Trump is partially immune from prosecution for actions while in office. Smith has refiled charges, arguing Trump's actions were not part of his official presidential duties.
Because a sitting president enjoys criminal immunity, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani said the January 6 case would be dismissed upon Trump being sworn into office. "It's well established that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted, so this case would likely be dropped," Rahmani said. If Smith does not dismiss the charges, Trump can employ the use of his executive powers to have him removed from the investigation.
3. Classified Documents Case
It charges Trump with mishandling classified documents after he left office, including storing sensitive material at his Mar-a-Lago residence and impeding the Justice Department's efforts to retrieve them.
That took a hit in July when Trump-appointed judge Aileen Cannon ruled to dismiss the charges on grounds that Special Counsel Smith was improperly appointed. The Justice Department is appealing, but Trump's legal team suggests it'll be one of those cases that lose steam once he's in office. Rahmani said he thinks the DOJ will "most likely" drop its appeal, and the case will be dismissed while Trump is president.
4. Georgia Election Interference Case
Donald Trump has criminal charges arising from an effort to make him influence the outcome of the 2020 election in Georgia. So far, the case has faced a number of legal hurdles, including motions to recuse District Attorney Fani Willis over her close associations with a prosecutor on the case. The appeal on that remains pending.
The case could be further delayed or dismissed now that Trump has been elected president. Legal experts suggest that the trial could be in limbo during the presidency of Trump. Steve Sadow, Trump's attorney, said that the case would most likely be put on hold because under the *supremacy clause* and duties of Trump as president until after he leaves the White House.
Trump's election victory has dramatically rewritten the legal landscape. With his presidency, he is protected from prosecution, quite possibly through his term. Legal battles that once seemed to loom large over him are precarious and may be swept away. But such complicated cases, together with the legal ways, a lot of those battles will be delayed for several years.
Where the law meets politics and power, the crossroads will continue to be played out as Trump prepares to make his way back to the White House, with the nation watching closely to see how his legal entanglements evolve.
