What are the criminal cases against Donald Trump?

A look at some of the legal cases against the former US president

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Former US president Donald Trump has vowed to remain in the race for the 2024 US election despite facing several criminal and civil investigations.

Speaking to a conservative radio host, the Republican front-runner said there was “nothing in the constitution” stating that he would be prohibited from seeking office even if he is convicted of a crime.

The interview came a day after federal prosecutors added fresh charges to a criminal case focused on his alleged mishandling of classified documents.

Here is a look at the cases – and what could come next:

Federal inquiry into role in mob attack

Mr Trump was indicted on federal charges on August 1 over his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results.

Special counsel Jack Smith charged Mr Trump with three counts of conspiracy and one count of obstruction.

In a 45-page indictment, prosecutors accuse Mr Trump of repeatedly lying about the election results and engaging in a conspiracy to “disenfranchise millions of voters” by installing puppet representatives to falsely back his election lies in the US Congress.

Mr Trump's claims of having won the election were “false, and the defendant knew they were false”, the indictment said.

“But the defendant repeated and widely disseminated them anyway – to make his knowingly false claims appear legitimate, to create an intense national atmosphere of mistrust and anger, and to erode public faith in the administration of the election.”

Despite losing the popular vote to Democrat Joe Biden by more than seven million votes, Mr Trump insisted he had won by a landslide.

Two months of false statements about the election results fuelled widespread anger among Mr Trump's base, who believed his claim the presidency had been “stolen” from him.

Their fury ultimately led to a deadly insurrection at the US Capitol, when a mob of Trump supporters smashed their way into the building.

If the case goes to trial, it could represent the biggest legal challenge faced by Mr Trump. The trial would probably be held in Washington, where the insurrection occurred, meaning prospective jurors are unlikely to have much sympathy for Mr Trump.

Federal classified documents case

Mr Trump faces 40 criminal charges stemming from his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office. The former president was most recently accused of “altering, destroying, mutilating or concealing an object”.

Mr Trump had already pleaded not guilty in Miami on June 13 to 37 criminal charges.

It marked the first federal prosecution of a former president and Mr Trump was accused of wilful possession of national security secrets after his presidency ended in 2021, conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and making false statements.

Prosecutors say Mr Trump showed classified war plans for a potential US attack on Iran to people who held no security clearances and stored hundreds of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, after he left the White House. They say he stored the files haphazardly at the property, where thousands of guests and visitors come and go.

Some sensitive documents were allegedly even kept in a bathroom – a far cry from secure government “Scif” facilities, where classified information is supposed to be viewed by those holding security clearance.

Mr Trump has repeatedly proclaimed his innocence and accuses Mr Biden's administration of making him the target of a political witch hunt. Jurors in Republican-leaning Florida are more likely to have sympathy for Mr Trump.

Donald Trump indicted in classified documents probe – in pictures

Stormy Daniels hush money case

In a state-level prosecution, New York authorities have charged Mr Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up the illegal payment of hush money his lawyer made to an adult film star during the 2016 presidential election campaign.

Mr Trump pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court in April, the culminating moment in a historic day that marked the first time a US president had been charged with a crime.

Following his arraignment, he returned to his home in Florida and hit back at prosecutors and their “ridiculous indictment”.

“I never thought anything like this could happen in America – never thought it could happen,” he said from Mar-a-Lago.

2020 election interference inquiry in Georgia

In Georgia, a special grand jury has heard from dozens of witnesses and reviewed evidence about Mr Trump allegedly interfering in the southern state's 2020 election results.

The investigation stems from a phone call he had with Secretary of State of Georgia Brad Raffensperger on January 2, 2021.

Mr Trump called on Mr Raffensperger, also a Republican, to “find” enough votes to overturn Mr Biden's win in Georgia.

A final report recommending indictments was submitted to prosecutors in December but remains under seal.

On July 11, a different grand jury was empanelled and will consider whether to issue indictments.

Such charges could include election code breaches or racketeering.

Updated: August 01, 2023, 11:17 PM