"Unprecedented ..."

Criminal in the White House

By: Bruce Joffe

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

I asked AI to predict what could happen if the entire government – executive, legislative, and judicial branches – was Republican … albeit with one critical caveat: the president was a convicted felon.

At first, AI was baffled, stumped, and spent much longer than usual in its “thinking” mode. Then, it spit out an answer: the sordid story of Donald Trump and his criminal activities.

From 1973 until he was first elected in 2016, Trump and his businesses were involved in over 4,000 legal cases in the United States federal and state courts—including battles with casino patrons, million-dollar real estate lawsuits, personal defamation lawsuits, and more than 100 business tax disputes.

Since Donald Trump's first presidency began in 2017, he and his administration have been involved in hundreds of lawsuits and legal challenges, ranging from challenges to executive actions to criminal indictments. The total number is difficult to pinpoint precisely, as new cases continue to be filed, and trackers define "involvement" differently.
Four significant criminal indictments were filed against Trump since 2017:

• New York hush-money case: In March 2023, Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. In May 2024, a jury found him guilty on all counts. The case is currently under appeal.
• Federal classified documents case: A federal grand jury in Florida indicted Trump in June 2023 on 40 charges related to mishandling classified documents after leaving office. The case was dismissed in July 2024, and the special counsel dropped the appeal after Trump's 2024 election.
• Federal election subversion case: A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted Trump in August 2023 on four charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Following a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, the case was dismissed without prejudice in November 2024.
• Georgia election racketeering case: A grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, indicted Trump and several co-defendants on racketeering and other charges related to the 2020 election. The case is currently on hold as of late 2024.

Trump has also been a party in many civil cases, including:

• E. Jean Carroll defamation cases: Writer E. Jean Carroll filed two lawsuits against Trump related to his denial of her sexual assault allegations. Juries awarded Carroll a total of over $88 million in damages, findings that have been upheld on appeal.
• New York financial fraud case: New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump and the Trump Organization for fraudulent business practices. A judge found Trump and his co-defendants liable for repeatedly inflating asset values.
• Lawsuits from former employees: Former employees, including former driver Noel Cintron and former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, have filed lawsuits against Trump.
• 2016 campaign rally lawsuit: A federal judge allowed a lawsuit against Trump to proceed, alleging he incited violence against protestors at a 2016 rally.

Beyond his personal and business legal issues, Trump's presidency has been marked by hundreds of lawsuits challenging executive actions.

• During his first term (2017–2021): Legal action targeted policies on immigration (including the travel ban), environmental protection, and a census citizenship question.
• Since January 2025: A new wave of lawsuits challenges actions from his second administration, including policies on immigration, freezing federal funds, and the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE). Trackers from organizations like Lawfare report hundreds of active and resolved cases against the administration.

Indeed, the facts speak for themselves. They're all here is this book!