What Crime Did Trump Get Convicted Of?
Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, has been accused of several crimes throughout his career and presidency. However, he has never been convicted of a crime in a court of law.
Accusations of Impeachment
Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in December 2019 on two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The charges stemmed from his dealings with Ukraine, where he was accused of pressuring the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden. Trump was also accused of withholding military aid to Ukraine as leverage.
However, the Senate failed to convict Trump of the charges in February 2020, with all Republican senators voting to acquit him. 47 Republican senators, including some who had initially supported Trump’s impeachment inquiry, ultimately voted to acquit Trump.
Criminal Charges
Despite not being convicted of a crime, Trump has faced numerous criminal investigations and charges during his presidency. The FBI conducted an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and potential coordination with the Trump campaign. While Trump was never charged with a crime related to the investigation, his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, was convicted of financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine.
Additionally, Trump was subpoenaed to testify in a lawsuit related to his use of the Trump Foundation as a personal piggy bank. New York Attorney General Letitia James accused Trump of misusing the foundation to benefit his own businesses and personal expenses.
Civil Litigation
Trump has faced numerous civil lawsuits throughout his career, many of which have resulted in damages and settlements. The National Enquirer, a tabloid publication owned by American Media, Inc. (AMI), paid Trump $150,000 to prevent publication of an affair story about him and adult film star Stormy Daniels.
What About Tax Evasion and Money Laundering?
The New York Times reported in 2020 that Trump had reportedly evaded taxes for several years by taking deductions and credits not intended for his business ventures. The article claimed that Trump had "likely engaged in some combination of both tax evasion and money laundering".
However, Trump’s tax lawyers and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have never confirmed or disputed these claims. Trump has also denied any wrongdoing, claiming that his tax returns were "under audit".
In Conclusion
Despite numerous allegations of wrongdoing, Donald Trump has never been convicted of a crime in a court of law. While he has faced numerous investigations and lawsuits, the outcome has often been in his favor. Trump’s tax returns remain under audit, and it’s unclear what the future holds for him in terms of criminal investigations or civil litigation.
Timeline of Allegations Against Trump
| Year | Allegation | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Russian interference in the presidential election | FBI investigation, no charges filed |
| 2018 | Misuse of the Trump Foundation | Lawsuit, $2.8 million in damages |
| 2019 | Abuse of power and obstruction of Congress (impeachment) | Senate acquittal |
| 2020 | Tax evasion and money laundering (report) | Unsubstantiated allegations, Trump denies wrongdoing |
| 2020 | Subpoenaed to testify in Trump Foundation lawsuit | Refused to testify, court ordered to move forward with trial |
Note: The above table is not exhaustive, but highlights some of the most significant allegations and outcomes against Trump.
