Trump trials tracker: Election interference case in limbo, classified documents dismissed
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Former President Trump on Monday scored a legal win with the dismissal of his classified documents case — thought to be the strongest criminal case he faced.
Why it matters: This leaves one open criminal case against Trump, which is unlikely to wrap before the election.
- Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, became the first former president to be convicted of a felony in May. His sentencing date was delayed while the New York court considers a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.
- He has pleaded not guilty to charges he faces in the remaining three cases, and his lawyers employed various strategies to delay the proceedings.
Trump's classified documents case
Judge Aileen Cannon cited "unlawful appointment and funding of special counsel Jack Smith" in her dismissal.
- Trump's legal team had argued Smith's role was unconstitutional.
Context: Cannon previously indefinitely postponed the case's trial date, pending resolution of a number of pre-trial motions.
- The Trump-appointed judge refused calls to step down as she faces mounting accusations of slow-moving the case.
Catch up quick: Trump was indicted in June 2023 and charged with 37 felony counts as part of the Justice Department's probe into his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House.
- Smith's office filed a superseding indictment in July 2023 levying new charges against Trump, bringing the number of counts he faces up to 40.
- Smith had proposed a July 8 start to the trial, which had originally been scheduled to begin in May.
Trump's Jan. 6 election interference case
The Supreme Court ruled July 1 that presidents have immunity for "official acts" in Trump's Jan. 6-related appeal.
- The election subversion trial was postponed indefinitely because of Trump's legally untested claims to immunity.
- The Supreme Court punted to a lower court the question of whether Trump's actions on Jan. 6 are considered protected, which will drag out the proceedings.
Catch up quick: Trump was indicted on four counts last August as part of special counsel Jack Smith's criminal investigation into alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
- He was charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.
Trump's New York hush money case
A New York jury in May found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
- He is expected to appeal the verdict, in a process that may not wrap up by the November election.
Zoom in: Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the case, in May rejected Trump's bid for a mistrial after Daniels testified.
- Merchan found Trump in contempt of court multiple times over the course of the weeks-long trial that began in April for violating a partial gag order — even warning that continued violations could land him in jail.
- Merchan in June loosened the gag order against Trump, allowing him to comment on witnesses and the jury.
Trump's Georgia 2020 election interference case
An Atlanta grand jury indicted Trump and 18 of his allies last August in an expansive case over alleged efforts to subvert Georgia's 2020 election results.
- Trump's lawyers have engaged in a legal battle over whether District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from the Georgia case, a development which could derail the case entirely.
- In early June, an appeals court paused court proceedings until the challenge to Willis is resolved. The appeals court is set to hear oral arguments on Trump's bid to disqualify Willis in October.
Flashback: Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Willis could stay at the helm of the prosecution, though Trump and several of his co-defendants appealed McAfee's ruling.
- The appeals court in May agreed to review McAfee's ruling that allowed Willis to stay on the case.
Zoom out: McAfee in March also dismissed several counts against Trump in the case, which was set to go to trial on Aug. 5. The case is in limbo as the proceedings concerning Willis continue.
Go deeper:
- What's next for Trump after guilty verdict in hush money case
- Judge dismisses Trump's federal classified docs case
Editor's note: This story was updated with new developments.
