Former US President Donald Trump could face real legal challenges as he returns to civilian life attacked by him from multiple legal defenses following the loss of President Joe’s election and inauguration Biden Wednesday.
A rule in U.S. law maintains that sitting leaders are free from conviction. The Office of the Office of Justice Advisers (OLC) has rules that prohibit federal law enforcement agencies from nominating the president.
Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, who investigated intrusion into Russia in the 2016 primary elections that saw Trump elected, cited instructions from the OLC to justify not identifying Trump for obstruction of justice while clarifying the decision not to oust the president.
Now, as Trump returns to normal life, the former president is facing court cases without a primary wing.
Federal expenses and their secret self-forgiveness?
Trump could face spending at the federal level in connection with his financial activities and his tax accounts.
Perhaps the most leaked case centers on evidence from former Trump lawyer and arbitrator Michael Cohen, who in 2018 pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to a range of crimes that introducing hush money to an adult actress as Trump ran for president, making the campaign expense payment illegal.
Cohen has said he committed these crimes at Trump’s will, although prosecutors have so far not described this individual as “Individual 1”.
Trump has denied any misconduct.
Former President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stop talking to the media as they walk aboard Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House before Trump resigns on January 20, 2021 [Alex Brandon/AP Photo]
The former president could also face legal action over his hidden tax bills.
The New York Times obtained and distributed copies of Trump’s tax records dating back more than 20 years.
Experts say there are signs of tax evasion and other financial crimes. Records show Trump, a billionaire, paid $ 750 in federal income tax for 2016 and 2017, which appears to be suspiciously low for a wealthy man.
Former federal prosecutor Nick Akerman told CNN in September that “it looks like Trump has committed a whole series of actions that could be worthy of tax fraud, not evasion. taxes. This is a very important difference ”.
Trump has denied claims related to his taxes and said he will pay millions in taxes.
Even if Trump would oppose federal allegations, there is a possibility that he forgave himself and his family members without public knowledge.
Trump issued 70 pardons on his last day in office, to political friends like Steve Bannon and Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy.
Trump apparently did not issue a pardon, which would have tested legal legality and possibly on the way to illegal activity with impeachment on the part of the U.S. head of state. But some legal scholars have not denied it.
I’m not sure Trump forgave himself (in secret). I believe that we will find out if it is filed against federal expenses.
– Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) January 20, 2021
Trump could offer self-forgiveness without warning the public. The amnesty would be recorded but we will not know if federal charges have not been filed.
The legal woes of the Empire State
Primary pardon does not protect individuals from state and city expenses. Trump could go against several.
New York seems to hold the most legal land mines for Trump. New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance has been conducting a criminal investigation into Trump for more than two years, though his exact identity is unknown.
Vance’s team said in court films that the investigation could investigate allegations of tax and insurance fraud and falsification of business records.
They are currently awaiting a Supreme Court order that would bring eight years of Trump’s tax results, though reports say Vance is already in some of Trump’s tax documents.
State Attorney General Letitia James has opened an investigation into the finances of the Trump Group, in the wake of Cohen’s claims that he increased funds to obtain loans while vandalizing funds to avoid taxes.
That investigation is civil and would not take jail time, but a fine.
Trump is also opposed to legal proceedings over allegations of sexual misconduct and rape.
Writer E Jean Carroll claims in a disrepute suit that Trump raped her in a New York department store in the 1990s and accused her of lying about about to sell books.
Those are the shoes I wore when Trump attacked me.
They are 27 years old. It is labeled “Barney’s New York.”
I walk on the air today because tomorrow Trump will be gone. pic.twitter.com/7ZM1Rmq4kk
– E. Jean Carroll (@ejeancarroll) January 19, 2021
Trump has denied the allegations. During Trump’s term, the Department of Justice tried to protect the former president from the issue.
He tried to replace Trump as the defender in the case and said he enjoyed widespread immunity since he talked about Carroll in his role as president.
It appears that the Biden Department of Justice will not continue to defend Trump, although films have not yet been made in the case.
Summer Zervos, who was a contestant on The Apprentice, the reality TV show on which Trump was a host for 14 years, has also accused Trump of sexual misconduct, unwanted kissing and groping.
The case was held while Trump was in office as courts ruled whether he would have to face allegations while in office. Trump previously claimed protectionism as president.
That claim is unlikely to stand on his return to civilian life.
Impeachment
Trump is still facing a lawsuit in the Senate over the House of Representatives attacking him for the second historic visit in the week before he resigned.
Trump is facing one charge of incitement over the January 6 Capitol riot. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to send the article to the Senate on Monday, starting the trial.
“There will be a lawsuit,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Friday. “It will be a full test, it will be a fair test.”
There are still legal questions about whether a vice president can be introduced after they leave office, although nothing is clearly stated in the U.S. Constitution that prohibits it.
Trump was against harsh criticism from Democrats and Republicans and was downplayed on social media after a speech he gave to his supporters before he attacked the U.S. Capitol.
Trump has long maintained unfounded claims that the election was stolen from him by voter fraud. His campaign posed a number of legal challenges to election results, most of which were quickly thrown out.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has proposed a delay in court as the Senate confirms Biden’s positions.
Biden has said the Senate can do both.