Trump InvestigationS

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee cleared the way for Donald Trump and other defendants to appeal his ruling that allowed District Attorney Fani Willis to continue her prosecution of the case. He granted them permission to ask the Georgia Court of Appeals to review that decision.

The special prosecutor who had a romantic relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis formally withdrew from the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump after a judge ruled one of them had to leave the case for it to move forward. Nathan Wade’s resignation came hours after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Wade had to be removed or Willis must step aside from the case. McAfee did not find that Willis’ relationship with Wade amounted to a conflict of interest that should disqualify her from the case. But, he said, the allegations created an “appearance of impropriety” that infected the prosecution team.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee dismissed six of the charges in the indictment, including three of the 13 charges against former President Donald Trump. But the judge left intact the remaining charges in the sprawling indictment and also said prosecutors could seek a new indictment on the charges he tossed out. The six challenged counts charge the defendants with soliciting public officers to violate their oaths. One count stems from a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, on Jan. 2, 2021, in which Trump urged Raffensperger to help him “find 11,780 votes."

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee heard arguments from both sides on the issue of whether District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from the Georgia election interference case over her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. McAfee said he expected to rule within two weeks.

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee presides in court, Friday, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. The hearing is to determine whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from the case because of a relationship with Nathan Wade, special prosecutor she hired in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Alex Slitz, Pool)

Special prosecutor Nathan Wade’s former law partner and onetime divorce attorney, Terrence Bradley, was forced to testify after the judge found that communications he had with Wade about the relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis were not protected by attorney-client privilege. Bradley was expected to be a key witness for the lawyers trying to remove Willis from the case, but he repeatedly said he did not know or could not remember when Willis and Wade’s relationship began.

During an extraordinary two-day evidentiary hearing, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade both took the stand and answered very personal questions about their relationship. They both testified the relationship started after Wade was hired and that they split travel costs. A former Willis friend and employee, Robin Yeartie, testified that she’d seen the pair kissing and hugging before Wade was hired.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. The hearing is to determine whether Willis should be removed from the case because of a relationship with Nathan Wade, special prosecutor she hired in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP)

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis filed a response to Trump co-defendant Michael Roman’s motion to remove her from the case. She acknowledged a “personal relationship" with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, but argued it had no bearing on the case and did not provide grounds to disqualify her.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis used a speech at a historic Black church in Atlanta to defend the qualifications of special prosecutor Nathan Wade and her decision to hire him. But she did not address the allegations that she and Wade were romantically involved, as alleged by Trump co-defendant Michael Roman in his motion to disqualify her from the case.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks during a worship service at the Big Bethel AME Church, where she was invited as a guest speaker on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Atlanta. The service celebrated Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the historic Black church. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Trump co-defendant Michael Roman filed a motion alleging an inappropriate romantic relationship between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and a special prosecutor she hired for the case. The motion alleged that Willis paid special prosecutor Nathan Wade large sums for his work and then personally benefitted when Wade used his earnings to pay for vacations for the two of them. Roman’s motion sought to have the indictment dismissed and to have Willis and Wade disqualified from the case.

Attorney Jenna Ellis pleaded guilty to one felony count after reaching a deal with prosecutors. Ellis’ guilty plea was related to her attendance at a December 2020 meeting of Georgia state senators where Rudy Giuliani and Georgia-based attorney Ray Smith made false allegations of widespread election fraud in Georgia.

Jenna Ellis speaks with her attorney Franklin Hogue after pleading guilty to a felony count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings, before Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Atlanta.

Attorney Kenneth Chesebro reached a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to a single felony charge. Prosecutors said Chesebro coordinated and executed a plan to have 16 Georgia Republicans sign a certificate declaring falsely that Trump won the state and declaring themselves the state’s “duly elected and qualified” electors.

Trump-allied attorney Sidney Powell, who was accused of participating in a breach of elections equipment in a rural south Georgia County, reached a deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty to six misdemeanor charges.

Scott Hall, who was accused of participating in a breach of elections equipment in a rural south Georgia County, became the first defendant to reach a deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty to five misdemeanor charges.

Trump traveled to Georgia to be booked at the Fulton County Jail, where the first-ever mug shot of a former president was taken.

This booking photo provided by Fulton County Sheriff's Office, shows former President Donald Trump on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, after he surrendered and was booked at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta.

Indictment returned by a Fulton County grand jury charging Trump and 18 others with participation in a wide-ranging conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.

U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments the week of April 22 over whether Trump can be prosecuted for election interference.

Trump files emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court that seeks to keep the case on hold while he further pursues his immunity claim.

The appeals court rejects Trump’s sweeping immunity claims and rules that the former president can face trial. In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel wrote that they cannot accept that former presidents are “above the law for all time” after leaving the White House.

Judge Chutkan formally postpones the March trial date as Washington’s federal appeals court weighs Trump’s claim that he immune from prosecution. The judge does not immediately set a new trial date.

The Supreme Court rejects special counsel Jack Smith’s request to immediately take up Trump’s claim that he is immune from prosecution. Smith had wanted the justices to bypass the appeals court in Washington to speed up a final ruling in the hopes of preserving the March trial date. The justices could still hear the immunity question, however, after the appeals court rules.

Judge Chutkan pauses the case while Trump further pursues his claim that he is immune from prosecution. The judge’s ruling raises the likelihood that the March trial date will be delayed while the appeal of a legally untested argument winds through the courts. But she also left open the possibility of keeping the trial date if the case returns to her court.

Washington’s federal appeals court largely upholds the gag order on Trump but narrowed the restrictions on his speech. The three-judge panel modified Judge Chutkan’s order to allow Trump to make disparaging comments about special counsel Jack Smith, but reimposed limits about what he can say about known or reasonably foreseeable witnesses as well as court staff and other lawyers.

Judge Chutkan rejects Trump’s claim that he is immune from prosecution, as well his claim that the indictment violates his free speech rights. Chutkan said that the office of the president “does not confer a lifelong ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ pass.”

Judge Chutkan imposes a narrow gag order barring Trump from making public statements targeting prosecutors, court staff or potential witnesses. It came after prosecutors raised concerns about Trump’s increasingly incendiary social media posts. Trump is appealing the gag order, calling it unconstitutional.

This undated photo provided by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, shows U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan.

Judge Chutkan denies Trump's request to recuse herself from the case. Trump had argued the judge's past courtroom comments about Trump and his role in the events of Jan. 6 raised doubts about whether she can be fair. But Chutkan said the defense mischaracterized her comments and that there was no reason for her to step aside.

Trump pleads not guilty to the charges in Washington's federal court.

Trump is indicted on federal charges over efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Trump made a rare appearance in federal court in Fort Pierce for a closed-door hearing with his lawyers and the judge centered on the procedures for handling classified evidence. It was the first time since his arraignment in June that he had been present in court for this particular case.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon postponed numerous procedural deadlines in the case, but left intact – for now – the May 20, 2024 trial date. She said she would revisit during a March 1 hearing the question of when the trial would begin. But in pushing back multiple other deadlines, the judge raised the prospect that a delay in the trial date was also likely.

Prosecutors reveal in a court filing that a Mar-a-Lago information technology director retracted false testimony and provided incriminating information after switching lawyers. A former lawyer for the IT staffer later discloses that his ex-client has struck a cooperation deal with investigators.

Trump and his valet Walt Nauta are charged in a superseding indictment that adds a new allegation that they conspired with a third defendant, Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira, in a scheme to delete surveillance video from the property that prosecutors considered to be crucial evidence. Trump and his lawyers have responded by noting that the footage was not deleted.

Trump pleads not guilty to the federal charges and, on his way out of Florida, stops at an iconic Cuban restaurant where he shook hands with supporters and posed for photographs.

Trump and Nauta are charged in a 38-count indictment in the Southern District of Florida.

Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to reporters Friday, June 9, 2023, in Washington. Former President Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents according to an indictment unsealed on Friday.

A court says it will hold off collection of Trump’s $454 million civil fraud judgment while he appeals if he puts up $175 million within 10 days. The ruling comes just as New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, was gearing up to potentially seize some of Trump’s properties to cover the debt. Trump’s lawyers had pleaded for a state appeals court to halt collection without requiring him to post the full amount immediately. They claimed it was “a practical impossibility” to get an underwriter to sign off on a bond covering the $454 million, plus interest, that he owes.

Trump appeals the civil fraud judgment, challenging a judge’s finding that he lied about his wealth as he grew the real estate empire that launched him to stardom and the presidency. His lawyers say they’re asking the appeals court to decide whether Engoron “committed errors of law and/or fact” and whether he abused his discretion or “acted in excess” of his jurisdiction. Trump’s lawyers will have an opportunity to expand on their grievances in subsequent court filings.

Judge Arthur Engoron issues his verdict. He orders Trump to pay $355 million in penalties, plus interest, ruling that he lied for years about his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals. In a 92-page decision, the judge writes “the frauds found here leap off the page and shock the conscience.” He also put strict limitations on the ability of Trump’s company business, but rescinded his earlier decision to strip Trump of his companies. In all, Engoron ordered Trump and his co-defendants to pay $363.9 million in penalties, or about $464 million with interest that will keep accruing until they pay. Trump is planning to appeal.

Donald Trump attends closing arguments. He defies the judge and gives a six-minute diatribe after his lawyers speak. Proclaiming “I am an innocent man,” Trump accused Attorney General Letitia James because of a political vendetta. The case “is a fraud on me,” he said. State lawyers, meanwhile, argued that they had presented ample evidence and that “fraud was central to the operation” of Trump’s business.

Trump’s lawyers rest their case after Trump decides against testifying for a second time. “I have already testified to everything & have nothing more to say,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. The defense called 17 witnesses in all, including real estate developers and brokers, accounting experts and a former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission official. Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., also returned to the witness stand to present “The Trump Story,” a slideshow of golf course fairways, skyscrapers and gilded interiors.

A New York appeals court reinstates Trump’s limited gag order, again barring him from criticizing court staff. The decision came two weeks after an individual appellate judge put the gag order on hold while the appeals process played out. Judge Arthur Engoron, who imposed the gag order on Oct. 3 after Trump made a disparaging social media post about his chief law clerk, says he plans to enforce the reinstated gag order “rigorously and vigorously.”

A state appeals court judge temporarily lifts Trump’s limited gag order, allowing him to again criticize court staff. Judge Arthur Engoron imposed the gag order on Oct. 3 after Trump made a disparaging social media post about his chief law clerk. Judge David Friedman of the state’s intermediate appeals court raised free speech concerns in suspending the order.

State lawyers rest their civil fraud case against Trump after calling 25 witnesses. They include the former president, his sons Eric and Donald Jr. and daughter Ivanka. The state says it may call rebuttal witnesses after Trump’s lawyers finish calling witnesses of their own.

Trump testifies at his civil fraud trial. He spends about 3½ hours on the stand. He denies allegations that he duped lenders by exaggerating his wealth on financial statements and repeatedly complains about what he deems a “very unfair trial.” He gripes Judge Arthur Engoron ruled “against me without knowing anything about me and labels New York Attorney General Letitia James “a political hack,” saying the Democrat “should be ashamed of herself” for going after him.

A courtroom sketch shows former President Donald Trump testifying in his New York civil fraud trial on Nov. 6, 2023.

Donald Trump is fined $10,000 for again violating a limited gag order barring attacks on court staff, this time for a comment to reporters outside the courtroom about “a person who’s very partisan sitting alongside” the judge. In an extraordinary moment, Judge Arthur Engoron abruptly called Trump to the witness stand and questioned him about the comment before issuing the fine. Trump said he was talking about his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who was testifying at the time, but Engoron deemed that claim “not credible,” noting that the clerk is closer to him than is the witness stand.

Judge Arthur Engoron fines Donald Trump $5,000 after his disparaging social media post about a key court staffer was found to have lingered on his campaign website for weeks after the judge ordered it deleted. Engoron stops short of holding Trump in contempt but says he reserves the right to do so. He raises the possibly of even putting Trump in jail if he again violates a limited gag order barring attacks on court staff.

Judge Arthur Engoron imposes a limited gag order and commands Donald Trump to delete a social media post that publicly maligned a key court staffer. The order, issued after a series of closed-door courtroom discussions involving Trump and lawyers for both sides, bars parties in the case from smearing court staff.

A trial begins on six remaining claims in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit. They include allegations of conspiracy, insurance fraud and falsifying business records. Though not required to attend, Donald Trump voluntarily goes to the courthouse and sits with his lawyers at the table for opening statements and the start of testimony. Judge Arthur Engoron is presiding over what’s known as a bench trial, meaning he will decide the verdict. That’s because New York law doesn’t allow a jury for this type of lawsuit.

In a pretrial decision, Judge Arthur Engoron rules that Trump and other defendants committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House. The ruling, in a phase of the case known as summary judgment, resolves the key claim in James’ lawsuit. He orders some of Trump’s companies removed from his control and dissolved, but an appeals court pauses enforcement.

New York Attorney General Letitia James sues Trump, his company and top executives including his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. She alleges Trump padded his net worth by billions of dollars and habitually misled banks and others about the value of prized assets like golf courses, hotels and his Mar-a-Lago estate. James dubs the alleged scheme “The art of the steal,” a reference to Trump’s 1987 memoir, “The Art of the Deal.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James siting in the courtroom during the trial in her civil fraud lawsuit against former President Donald Trump.

New York Attorney General Letitia James starts investigating then-President Donald Trump after his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testified to Congress that Trump had a history of misrepresenting the value of assets to gain favorable loan terms and tax benefits. Cohen gave copies of three of Trump’s financial statements to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. He said Trump gave the statements to Deutsche Bank to inquire about a loan to buy the NFL’s Buffalo Bills in 2014 and to Forbes magazine to substantiate his claim to a spot on its list of the world’s wealthiest people.