Criminal Investigations Related to Trump, Explained
Summary:
- New developments in criminal cases against former President Trump involve investigations in Florida and Georgia.
- In Florida, Trump faces 37 felony counts related to the willful retention of national security information.
- In Georgia, a traditional grand jury is set to review findings from a special purpose grand jury investigating election interference allegations against Trump and his allies.
- In New York, Trump's facing 34 counts of falsification of business records related to reimbursements for payments made to Stormy Daniels.
- Trump's legal challenges span both state and federal levels, potentially impacting future pardon considerations.
New developments in the criminal cases against former President Trump have brought attention to two ongoing investigations. One is related to the handling of classified documents in Florida, while the other centers on allegations of election interference in Georgia. CBS News investigative reporter Graham Cates breaks down the details.
The federal investigation overseen by special counsel Jack Smith involves two separate probes. The first, which has not led to charges yet, pertains to the willful retention of national security information and resulted in 37 felony counts against former President Trump. Despite entering a guilty plea, Trump has criticized the case as political and is seeking to delay the trial until after the 2024 election. In Georgia, a special purpose grand jury investigated Trump's behavior after the 2020 election, starting with the infamous phone call where he asked the Secretary of State for 11,780 votes. While the grand jury did not have the power to indict, a traditional grand jury is set to review their findings and determine whether there's enough evidence to press charges against Trump and his allies. Meanwhile, Trump faces legal trouble in New York as well. The Manhattan DA's criminal investigation led to the first-ever indictment of a former president on 34 counts of falsification of business records. The case revolves around reimbursements for payments to Stormy Daniels made by Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen before the 2016 election. Trump denies all allegations and claims the prosecution is politically motivated. The trial is scheduled for March 2024, and efforts to recuse the judge and move the case to federal jurisdiction have been unsuccessful. Given the ongoing investigations in Georgia and New York, Trump's legal challenges extend to both state and federal levels, making potential future pardons more complex.
With these investigations unfolding, the legal scrutiny surrounding former President Trump shows no signs of abating. As the trials and hearings approach, the country remains closely tuned to the outcomes that could have significant implications.