Personal and business legal affairs of Donald Trump: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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{{Donald Trump series|expanded=Business and personal}}
From the 1970s until he was elected president in 2016, [[Donald Trump]] and his businesses were involved in over 4,000 legal cases in [[Federal judiciary of the United States|United States federal]] and [[State court (United States)|state court]]s, including battles with casino patrons, million-dollar real estate lawsuits, personal [[defamation]] lawsuits, and over 100 business tax disputes.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Nick |last1=Penzenstadler |first2=Steve |last2=Reilly |title=Donald Trump: Three decades, 4,095 lawsuits |url=https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/trump-lawsuits/ |newspaper=USA Today |date=July 7, 2016 |access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417181428/https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/trump-lawsuits/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He has also been accused of [[Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations|sexual harassment and sexual assault]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Summer Zervos Suing Donald Trump for Defamation|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/apprentice-contestant-summer-zervos-slaps-donald-trump-with-defamation-lawsuit |first=Brandy |last=Zadrozny |author-link=Brandy Zadrozny |date=January 17, 2017 |access-date=January 17, 2017 |work=The Daily Beast|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117222944/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/17/apprentice-contestant-summer-zervos-slaps-donald-trump-with-defamation-lawsuit.html|archive-date=January 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Stockman |first=Rachel |url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/exclusive-inside-the-donald-trump-sexual-assault-lawsuit/ |title=Exclusive: Inside The $125 Million Donald Trump Sexual Assault Lawsuit |work=Law and Crime |date=February 23, 2016 |access-date=December 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218143407/https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/exclusive-inside-the-donald-trump-sexual-assault-lawsuit/ |archive-date=December 18, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> with one accusation resulting in him being held civilly liable.<ref name=civiljudgment />
In 2015, Trump's lawyer Alan Garten called Trump's legal entanglements "a natural part of doing business" in the U.S.<ref name="ObermanLongTrail"/><ref name=Isikoff30Aug>{{cite news |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/how-trump-could-turn-the-presidency-into-a-127901460096.html |title=How Trump could turn the presidency into a 'litigation circus' |date=August 30, 2015 |first=Michael |last=Isikoff |publisher=Yahoo! Politics |access-date=August 31, 2015 |quote=He is a litigation magnet who has been the target (and the initiator) of hundreds of civil suits over the past several decades.... Indeed, Trump's penchant for litigation – and punching back against his critics in court – has shown no signs of abating while he is on the campaign trail. |archive-date=April 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405082252/https://www.yahoo.com/news/how-trump-could-turn-the-presidency-into-a-127901460096.html |url-status=live }}</ref> While litigation is indeed common in the [[real estate industry]],<ref name="ObermanLongTrail">{{cite news |first1=Brody |last1=Mullins |first2=Jim |last2=Oberman |title=Trump's Long Trail of Litigation|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-long-trail-of-litigation-1457891191 |url-status=live |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=March 13, 2016 |access-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160415055659/http://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-long-trail-of-litigation-1457891191 |quote=Litigation isn't unusual for resolving business disputes or enforcing contracts, particularly in the real-estate industry. It is difficult to determine whether Mr. Trump files more lawsuits than others with similarly broad business interests. The Republican Party has long argued that excessive litigation in the U.S. increases the costs of goods and services and limits job creation. Republican leaders have pushed, in particular, for medical-malpractice changes, to reduce fraud in the asbestos-claims process and to cut down on what they see as frivolous litigation in general. Mr. Trump's political opponents have cited his pattern of litigiousness to buttress their contention that he isn't a true conservative.}}</ref> Trump has been involved in more legal cases than his fellow magnates [[Edward J. DeBartolo Jr.]], [[Donald Bren]], [[Stephen M. Ross]], [[Sam Zell]], and [[Larry Silverstein]] combined. Much of the lawsuits were filed against patrons with debt to his casinos. Of all cases with a clear resolution, Trump was the victor 92 percent of the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Penzenstadler |first1=Nick |last2=Page |first2=Susan |date=1 June 2016 |title=Exclusive: Trump's 3,500 lawsuits unprecedented for a presidential nominee |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/01/donald-trump-lawsuits-legal-battles/84995854/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=June 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602025056/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/01/donald-trump-lawsuits-legal-battles/84995854/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Numerous legal matters and investigations occurred during and after Trump's presidency, some being of historical import. Between October 2021 and July 2022 alone, the [[Republican National Committee]] paid more than US$2 million to attorneys representing Trump in his presidential, personal, and business capacities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Klein |first1=Charlotte |date=July 28, 2022 |title=The RNC Has Been Bankrolling Trump's Legal Bills. If He Runs, They're Cutting Him Off. |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/07/rnc-trump-running-2024-legal-bills |access-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729072419/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/07/rnc-trump-running-2024-legal-bills |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2023, a federal judge fined Trump and his attorney nearly $1 million, characterizing him as "a prolific and sophisticated litigant who is repeatedly using the courts to seek revenge on political adversaries".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |date=2023-01-31 |title=Trump's Well-Worn Legal Playbook Starts to Look Frayed |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/31/us/politics/trump-legal-tactics.html |access-date=2023-04-12 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214248/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/31/us/politics/trump-legal-tactics.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On December 6, 2022, the parent company of Trump's many businesses, [[The Trump Organization]], was convicted on 17 criminal charges.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Ben |last1=Protess |first2=Jonah E. |last2=Bromwich |first3=William K. |last3=Rashbaum |first4=Lola |last4=Fadulu |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/12/06/nyregion/trump-organization-trial-verdict |title=Trump Organization Found Guilty in Tax Fraud Scheme |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 6, 2022 |access-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-date=December 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221207025619/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/12/06/nyregion/trump-organization-trial-verdict |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-organization-trial-verdict-tax-fraud-charges/ |title=Trump Organization companies found guilty on all charges in tax fraud trial in New York |first=Graham |last=Kates |work=CBS News |date=December 6, 2022 |access-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206210235/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-organization-trial-verdict-tax-fraud-charges/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="toconvicted">{{Cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Shayna |date=December 6, 2022 |title=Trump Organization convicted in N.Y. criminal tax fraud trial |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/12/06/trump-organization-guilty-tax-fraud/ |access-date=December 6, 2022 |quote=Two Trump Organization entities — the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corp. — were on trial. Both were found guilty on all charges. |archive-date=March 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329102715/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/12/06/trump-organization-guilty-tax-fraud/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Trump has been [[E. Jean Carroll vs. Donald J. Trump|found liable]] for [[sexual abuse]] and [[defamation]]<ref name="civiljudgment">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/jurors-set-deliberate-civil-rape-case-against-donald-trump-2023-05-09/|title=Jury finds Trump sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll, awards her $5 mln|first1=Jack|last1=Queen|first2=Luc|last2=Cohen|publisher=Reuters|date=May 9, 2023|access-date=May 9, 2023|archive-date=May 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509190650/https://www.reuters.com/legal/jurors-set-deliberate-civil-rape-case-against-donald-trump-2023-05-09/|url-status=live}}</ref> and is appealing an order to pay more than $80 million in damages to the victim, E. Jean Carroll.<ref name=":272">{{Cite web |last=Boboltz |first=Sara |date=2024-01-26 |title=Jury Awards E. Jean Carroll Over $80 Million In Case Against Trump |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-e-jean-carroll-defamation-assault-verdict_n_65b3cac3e4b0d407294ef204 |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127020539/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-e-jean-carroll-defamation-assault-verdict_n_65b3cac3e4b0d407294ef204 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-judge-rejects-trump-bid-throw-out-writers-833-mln-defamation-verdict-2024-04-25/|title=US judge upholds $83.3 million defamation loss, rejects new trial|first1=Jonathan|last1=Stempel|publisher=Reuters|date=April 25, 2024|access-date=July 7, 2024}}</ref> Trump, together with his associates, has also been [[New York civil investigation of The Trump Organization|found liable]] for fraud regarding overvaluation of The Trump Organization and Trump's [[net worth]],<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Scannell |first1=Kara |last2=del Valle |first2=Lauren |date=2023-09-26 |title=New York judge finds Donald Trump liable for fraud |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/26/politics/trump-organization-business-fraud/index.html |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115072516/https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/26/politics/trump-organization-business-fraud/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and is appealing a $364 million fine<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bustillo |first1=Ximena |date=February 16, 2024 |title=Trump ordered to pay over $355M for fraudulent business practices in New York |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/02/16/1226294071/trump-fined-fraud-trial-ny |access-date=February 17, 2024 |work=[[NPR]] |archive-date=February 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216215130/https://www.npr.org/2024/02/16/1226294071/trump-fined-fraud-trial-ny |url-status=live }}</ref> plus $100 million interest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scannell |first=Kara |date=2024-02-23 |title=Judge formally says Trump owes $454 million in civil fraud case, countdown starts for him to put up the money for appeal |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/23/politics/trump-judgment-civil-fraud-ruling/index.html |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226195726/https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/23/politics/trump-judgment-civil-fraud-ruling/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-posts-175-million-bond-civil-fraud-case-averting-asset-seizures-2024-04-02/|title=Trump posts $175 million bond in civil fraud case, averting asset seizures|first=Jack|last=Queen|publisher=Reuters|date=2024-04-01|accessdate=2024-04-01}}</ref> In 2024, Trump [[Prosecution of Donald Trump in New York|was convicted]] on numerous counts of [[falsifying business records]] related to [[hush money]] payments to [[adult film]] actress [[Stormy Daniels]],<ref name="NYT-20240530">{{cite news |author=The Editorial Board |date=May 30, 2024 |title=Donald Trump, Felon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/30/opinion/trump-trial-guilty-felony.html |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240531021726/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/30/opinion/trump-trial-guilty-felony.html |archivedate=May 31, 2024 |accessdate=May 31, 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> although the sentencing has been delayed in light of a [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] ruling that may have relevance to the case.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/trump-sentencing-delayed-hush-money-case-supreme-court-immunity/|title=Trump sentencing delayed as judge in 'hush money' case weighs Supreme Court immunity ruling|first=Graham|last=Kates|publisher=[[CBS News|CBS]]|date=2024-07-02|accessdate=2024-07-07|archive-date=August 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823083443/https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/trump-sentencing-delayed-hush-money-case-supreme-court-immunity/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Polantz |first1=Katelyn |last2=Lybrand |first2=Holmes |date=2024-02-02 |title=Federal judge in Trump's DC election interference case postpones trial |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/02/politics/trump-trial-date-postponed/index.html |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206204245/https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/02/politics/trump-trial-date-postponed/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump will also face trial on [[Federal prosecution of Donald Trump (election obstruction case)|federal charges related to the 2020 election]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Sneed |first1=Tierney |last2=Lybrand |first2=Holmes |last3=Cohen |first3=Marshall |last4=Cohen |first4=Zachary |last5=Cole |first5=Devan |last6=Rabinowitz |first6=Hannah |last7=Polantz |first7=Katelyn |date=August 1, 2023 |title=Donald Trump has been indicted in special counsel's 2020 election interference probe |language=en |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/01/politics/donald-trump-indictment-grand-jury-2020-election/index.html |access-date=August 1, 2023 |archive-date=August 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801220818/https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/01/politics/donald-trump-indictment-grand-jury-2020-election/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2025, Trump is expected to go to trial for [[Federal prosecution of Donald Trump (classified documents case)|federal charges relating to his handling of classified documents]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Berman |first1=Dan |last2=Polantz |first2=Katelyn |date=2024-06-05 |title=Judge Cannon expands hearing on Trump's request to declare special counsel's appointment invalid |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/04/politics/cannon-trump-special-counsel-hearing/index.html |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823083439/https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/04/politics/cannon-trump-special-counsel-hearing/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Lawsuits involving government entities ==
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Representing Trump, [[Roy Cohn]] filed a counter-suit against the government for $100 million, asserting that the charges were irresponsible and baseless.<ref name="Resnick15Dec" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dunlap |first1=David W. |date=July 30, 2015 |title=1973 Meet Donald Trump |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/times-insider/2015/07/30/1973-meet-donald-trump/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731123300/http://www.nytimes.com/times-insider/2015/07/30/1973-meet-donald-trump/ |archive-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> A federal judge threw out the countersuit, calling it a waste of "time and paper".<ref name="Elliott">{{cite news |last1=Elliott |first1=Justin |date=April 28, 2011 |title=Donald Trump's racial discrimination problem |work=[[Salon.com]] |url=https://www.salon.com/2011/04/28/donald_trump_discrimination_suit/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207142612/https://www.salon.com/2011/04/28/donald_trump_discrimination_suit/ |archive-date=December 7, 2020}}</ref> Trump settled the charges out of court in 1975 without admitting guilt, saying he was satisfied that the agreement did not "compel the Trump organization to accept persons on welfare as tenants unless as qualified as any other tenant".<ref>{{cite news |last=Dunlap |first=David W. |date=July 30, 2015 |title=Meet Donald Trump |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/times-insider/2015/07/30/1973-meet-donald-trump/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731123300/http://www.nytimes.com/times-insider/2015/07/30/1973-meet-donald-trump/ |archive-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref>
[[Tony Schwartz (author)|Tony Schwartz]], the ghostwriter of Trump's book, ''[[The Art of the Deal]]'', said that the housing case was "a classic example" of Trump being "a counterpuncher": someone accuses Trump of doing something horrible, and he "goes back at them with all guns blazing.... And admits nothing." If Trump loses, he will "declare victory".<ref>{{cite news |last=Leonhardt |first=David |date=October 17, 2016 |title=Donald Trump's Playbook for Smearing |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/17/opinion/campaign-stops/donald-trumps-playbook-for-smearing.html |access-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404232529/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/17/opinion/campaign-stops/donald-trumps-playbook-for-smearing.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
The corporation was required to send a bi-weekly list of vacancies to the [[National Urban League|New York Urban League]], a civil rights group, and give them priority for certain locations.<ref name="trumplawsuit" /> In 1978 the Trump Organization again was in court for violating terms of the 1975 settlement; Trump denied the charges.<ref name="Resnick15Dec" /><ref name="Elliott" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Tuccille |first1=Jerome |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=50ss1oWeZBAC&pg=PA139 |title=Trump: The Saga of America's Most Powerful Real Estate Baron |date=1985 |publisher=Beard Books |isbn=9781587982231 |page=138 |access-date=March 10, 2016}}</ref>
==== Other suits ====
In 1988, the Justice Department sued Trump for violating procedures related to public notifications when buying voting stock in a company related to his attempted takeovers of Holiday Corporation and Bally Manufacturing Corporation in 1986. Trump agreed to pay $750,000 to settle the civil penalties of the antitrust lawsuit.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rowley |first1=James |date=April 5, 1988 |title=Trump Agrees To Pay $750,000 Penalty To Settle Antitrust Lawsuit |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/54ea0dc590fc97d9e9e86c65336649a1 |access-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030031936/https://apnews.com/article/54ea0dc590fc97d9e9e86c65336649a1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2016, the [[American Bar Association]] (ABA) commissioned a report to highlight Trump's excess litigation, entitled "Donald J. Trump is a Libel Bully but also a Libel Loser", but initially declined to publish it fearing being sued by Trump.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Casey |title=Trump 'Libel Bully' Article Was Never Rejected, Says ABA |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/trump-libel-bully-article-was-never-rejected-says-aba |access-date=3 June 2024 |work=Bloomberg Law |date=November 3, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823083441/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/trump-libel-bully-article-was-never-rejected-says-aba |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Liptak |first1=Adam |title=Fearing Trump, Bar Association Stifles Report Calling Him a 'Libel Bully' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/25/us/politics/donald-trump-lawsuits-american-bar-association.html |access-date=3 June 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=24 October 2016 |archive-date=June 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603181321/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/25/us/politics/donald-trump-lawsuits-american-bar-association.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=SEAGER |first1=SUSAN E. |title=Donald J. Trump is a Libel Bully but also a Libel Loser |journal=Communications Lawyer |date=Fall 2016 |volume=32 |issue=3 |page=1,5-11 |url=https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publications/communications_lawyer/fall2016/cl32-3.pdf |access-date=3 June 2024 |archive-date=April 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409025305/https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publications/communications_lawyer/fall2016/cl32-3.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2001, the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] brought a financial-reporting case against Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc., alleging that the company had committed several "misleading statements in the company's third-quarter 1999 earnings release". Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc. consented to the commission's cease-and-desist order, said the culprit had been dismissed, and that Trump had personally been unaware of the matter.<ref>{{cite press release |date=January 16, 2002 |title=SEC Brings First Pro Forma Financial Reporting Case |url=https://www.sec.gov/news/headlines/trumphotels.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709151111/http://www.sec.gov/news/headlines/trumphotels.htm |archive-date=July 9, 2011 |access-date=April 10, 2011 |publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=January 16, 2002 |title=SEC cites Trump Hotels |work=CNN/Money |url=https://money.cnn.com/2002/01/16/news/sec_trump/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311042252/http://money.cnn.com/2002/01/16/news/sec_trump/ |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |quote=Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc. has consented to a Securities and Exchange Commission cease-and-desist order after being accused by regulators of making misleading statements in the company's third-quarter 1999 earnings release.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tully |first1=Shawn |date=March 14, 2016 |title=When Donald Trump Got in Trouble with the SEC |work=Fortune |url=https://fortune.com/2016/03/14/donald-trump-sec/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316082344/http://fortune.com/2016/03/14/donald-trump-sec/ |archive-date=March 16, 2016}}</ref>
=== New York ===
In 1985, New York City brought a lawsuit against Trump for allegedly using tactics to force out tenants of 100 Central Park South,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schanberg |first1=Sydney H. |date=March 9, 1985 |title=New York; Doer and Slumlord Both |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/09/opinion/new-york-doer-and-slumlord-both.html |access-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-date=July 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723150256/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/09/opinion/new-york-doer-and-slumlord-both.html |url-status=live }}</ref> which he intended to demolish together with the building next door. After ten years in court, the two sides negotiated a deal allowing the building to stand as condominiums.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rozhon |first1=Tracie |date=March 26, 1998 |title=A Win by Trump! No, by Tenants!; Battle of the 80's Ends, With Glad-Handing All Around |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/26/nyregion/win-trump-no-tenants-battle-80-s-ends-with-glad-handing-all-around.html |access-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-date=March 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315112153/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/26/nyregion/win-trump-no-tenants-battle-80-s-ends-with-glad-handing-all-around.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2000, Donald Trump paid $250,000 to settle fines related to charges brought by [[New York State Lobbying Commission]] director David Grandeau. Trump was charged with circumventing state law to spend $150,000 lobbying against government approval of plans to construct an Indian-run casino in the Catskills, which would have diminished casino traffic to Trump's casinos in Atlantic City.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mahoney |first1=Joe |date=October 5, 2000 |title=For Trump, 250G Fine in Lobbying |work=[[New York Daily News]] |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/trump-250g-fine-lobbying-article-1.885295 |url-status=live |access-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224205502/https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/trump-250g-fine-lobbying-article-1.885295 |archive-date=December 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dicker |first1=Fredric U. |date=July 17, 2000 |title=Trump Probed in Casino Lobbying Blitz |work=New York Post |url=https://nypost.com/2000/07/17/trump-probed-in-casino-lobbying-blitz/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311032631/http://nypost.com/2000/07/17/trump-probed-in-casino-lobbying-blitz/ |archive-date=March 11, 2016}}</ref>
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{{Further|New York investigations of The Trump Organization}}
On December 20, 2021, Trump filed a lawsuit against [[Attorney General of New York|New York Attorney General]] [[Letitia James]] in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of New York]]<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last1=Mangan |first1=Dan |last2=Breuninger |first2=Kevin |date=December 20, 2021 |title=Trump sues NY Attorney General Letitia James to block probe into his company |work=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/20/trump-sues-ny-attorney-general-letitia-james-to-block-company-probe.html |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111070623/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/20/trump-sues-ny-attorney-general-letitia-james-to-block-company-probe.html |url-status=live }}</ref> over her ongoing civil investigation into potentially unlawful inflation and deflation of property values where it was best suited to avoid tax liability and gain other financial benefits by [[The Trump Organization]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mangan |first1=Dan |last2=Wilkie |first2=Christina |date=August 24, 2020 |title=New York attorney general investigating whether Trump Organization 'improperly' inflated value of assets |work=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/24/ny-attorney-general-probes-whether-trump-improperly-inflated-real-estate-value.html |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-date=January 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103193844/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/24/ny-attorney-general-probes-whether-trump-improperly-inflated-real-estate-value.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump sought a permanent suspension of the investigation, which has been proceeding for over three years, because he alleged it was being used as a political tool to harass and intimidate him, his business, and his family through unwarranted subpoenas and aggressive public statements made by James both in her official capacity and personal capacity.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Habba |first=Alina |date=December 20, 2021 |title=Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief |url=https://www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/James_20211220_Trump-complaint.pdf |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119152628/https://www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/James_20211220_Trump-complaint.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> James' office denied these claims, and in a separate statement accused Trump of using "over two years of delay tactics" through the courts to obstruct the investigation's progress.<ref>{{Cite web |last=James |first=Letitia |date=January 3, 2022 |title=New York Attorney General's Tweet |url=https://twitter.com/NewYorkStateAG/status/1478146786980249600 |access-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-date=June 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611153237/https://twitter.com/NewYorkStateAG/status/1478146786980249600 |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 10, 2022, Trump filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to prevent the New York Attorney General from continuing her investigation until a final judgement on his complaint had been made, arguing her inquiry was entirely baseless.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Feinberg |first=Andrew |date=January 11, 2022 |title=Trump asks court to prohibit New York Attorney General from investigating him |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-letitia-james-lawsuit-recusal-b1990902.html |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112112805/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-letitia-james-lawsuit-recusal-b1990902.html |url-status=live }}</ref> James moved to dismiss the suit on January 26, stating that Trump is a "state-court loser" seeking to bypass the legal process in the state through federal court.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Woodward |first=Alex |date=January 26, 2022 |title=New York attorney general calls Trump effort to block investigation 'baseless and meritless collateral attack' |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-new-york-letitia-james-lawsuit-b2001517.html |access-date=April 14, 2022 |archive-date=April 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414065040/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-new-york-letitia-james-lawsuit-b2001517.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 20, 2023, Trump's lawyers withdrew the suit. The same judge, Donald M. Middlebrooks, had just fined Trump and his attorneys almost $1 million for filing a "frivolous" defamation lawsuit against Hillary Clinton.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wagner |first=John |date=January 20, 2023 |title=Trump withdraws lawsuit against N.Y. attorney general |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/20/trump-new-york-attorney-general-lawsuit/ |access-date=January 20, 2023 |archive-date=January 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121005945/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/20/trump-new-york-attorney-general-lawsuit/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
James has subpoenaed Trump to produce documents in connection with her investigation into the Trump Organization. On April 25, 2022, New York Judge Arthur Engoron found that Trump did not comply with the subpoena and declared him to be in civil contempt of court. He said Trump would be fined $10,000 per day until he complies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moghe |first1=Sonia |last2=Scannell |first2=Kara |date=April 25, 2022 |title=Judge holds former President Trump in civil contempt for failing to comply with document subpoenas from New York attorney general |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/25/politics/trump-contempt-hearing/index.html |access-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426232314/https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/25/politics/trump-contempt-hearing/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In November 2022, Trump sued James in the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida]] to block her access to the records of the trust he set up to hold his companies when he became president, the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust. Judge [[Donald Middlebrooks]] denied his emergency motion for a preliminary injunction.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scannell |first=Kara |date=December 21, 2022 |title=Judge rejects Trump's attempt to block NY attorney general from accessing his trust records |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/21/politics/trump-private-trust-records/index.html |access-date=December 25, 2022 |archive-date=December 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225184230/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/21/politics/trump-private-trust-records/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 20, 2023, Trump withdrew the lawsuit. The same judge had just fined Trump and his lawyer almost $1 million for filing a racketeering lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wagner |first=John |date=January 20, 2023 |title=Trump withdraws lawsuit against N.Y. attorney general |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/20/trump-new-york-attorney-general-lawsuit/ |access-date=January 21, 2023 |archive-date=January 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121005945/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/20/trump-new-york-attorney-general-lawsuit/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==== Trump University litigation ====
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=== Other U.S. state and local governments ===
In 1991, Trump Plaza was fined $200,000 by the [[New Jersey Casino Control Commission]] for moving African American and female employees from craps tables in order to accommodate high roller Robert LiButti, a mob figure and alleged [[John Gotti]] associate, who was said to fly into fits of racist rage when he was on losing streaks.<ref name="Isikoff7Mar">{{cite news |last=Isikoff |first=Michael |date=March 7, 2016 |title=Trump challenged over ties to mob-linked gambler with ugly past |publisher=Yahoo! News |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-challenged-over-ties-to-mob-linked-gambler-100050602.html |access-date=March 7, 2016 |archive-date=April 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405082256/https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-challenged-over-ties-to-mob-linked-gambler-100050602.html |url-status=live }}</ref> There is no indication that Trump was ever questioned in that investigation, he was not held personally liable, and Trump denies even knowing what LiButti looked like.<ref name="Isikoff7Mar" />
In 1991, one of Trump's casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was found guilty of circumventing state regulations about casino financing when Donald Trump's father bought $3.5 million in chips that he had no plans to gamble. Trump Castle was forced to pay a $30,000 fine under the settlement, according to New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement director Jack Sweeney. Trump was not disciplined for the illegal advance on his inheritance, which was not confiscated.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnston |first1=David |date=April 9, 1991 |title=N.j. Agency Says Trump Loan Illegal |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |url=http://articles.philly.com/1991-04-09/news/25780577_1_casino-control-act-donald-trump-casino-owners |url-status=dead |access-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329081322/http://articles.philly.com/1991-04-09/news/25780577_1_casino-control-act-donald-trump-casino-owners |archive-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref>
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On November 8, 2016, Trump filed a lawsuit claiming [[early voting]] polling places in [[Clark County, Nevada]], were kept open too late. These precincts had a high turnout of Latino voters. [[Nevada|Nevada state]] law explicitly stated that polls were to stay open to accommodate eligible voters in line at closing time. Hillary Clinton campaign advisor [[Neera Tanden]] accused the Trump campaign of trying to suppress Latino voter turnout. A political analyst from Nevada, [[Jon Ralston]], tweeted that the Trump lawsuit was "insane" in a state that clearly allowed the polls to remain open until everyone in line had voted. Former [[Secretary of State of Nevada|Nevada Secretary of State]] [[Ross Miller]] posted the statute that stated "voting must continue until those voters have voted". Miller said: "If there are people in line waiting to vote at 7 pm, voting must continue until everyone votes.... We still live in America, right?"<ref>{{cite news |last=Halper |first=Evan |date=November 8, 2016 |title=Trump sues to challenge early voting in Las Vegas area, which had big Latino turnout |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-election-day-2016-updates-htmlstory.html#trump-sues-to-challenge-early-voting-in-las-vegas-area-which-had-big-latino-turnout |url-status=live |access-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109000119/http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-election-day-2016-as-latino-vote-surges-in-nevada-trump-1478632787-htmlstory.html |archive-date=November 9, 2016}}</ref>
A Nevada judge denied Trump's request to separate early voting ballots. Judge Gloria Sturman, of the [[Clark County District Court|District Court for Clark County Nevada]], ruled that County Registrar of Voters Joe P. Gloria was already obligated by state law to maintain the records that the Trump campaign was seeking. Sturman said: "That is offensive to me because it seems to go against the very principle that a vote is secret."<ref>{{cite news |last1=de Vogue |first1=Ariane |last2=LoBianco |first2=Tom |date=November 8, 2016 |title=Nevada judge denies Trump request to separate early voting ballots |work=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/08/politics/nevada-voting-lawsuit-donald-trump/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109003352/http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/08/politics/nevada-voting-lawsuit-donald-trump/ |archive-date=November 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=November 8, 2016 |title=Update: Judge throws out Trump lawsuit in Clark County |work=[[Reno Gazette-Journal]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.rgj.com/story/news/politics/2016/11/08/trump-files-nevada-lawsuit-over-early-voting/93484116/ |access-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823083442/https://www.rgj.com/story/news/politics/2016/11/08/trump-files-nevada-lawsuit-over-early-voting/93484116/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Diana Orrock, the Republican National Committeewoman for Nevada and a vocal Trump ally, said she was unaware of the lawsuit before ''[[Politico]]'' contacted her. "I know that the [Clark County] registrar was on TV this morning saying that anybody who's in line was allowed to participate in the voting process until all of them came through," she said. "If that's what they did, I don't have a problem with that ... I don't know that filing a suit's going to accomplish anything." Orrock doubted the lawsuit would have any impact.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Arnsdorf |first1=Isaac |last2=Samuelsohn |first2=Darren |date=November 8, 2016 |title=Trump loses round in legal fight over Nevada county early voting extension |work=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/trump-sues-nevada-county-over-poll-hours-extension-230944 |url-status=live |access-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109080743/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/trump-sues-nevada-county-over-poll-hours-extension-230944 |archive-date=November 9, 2016}}</ref>
=== Outside the U.S. ===
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====Business====
In late 1990, Trump was sued for $2 million by a business analyst for [[defamation]], and Trump settled out of court.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/11/business/analyst-settles-trump-lawsuit.html |title=Analyst Settles Trump Lawsuit |date=June 11, 1991 |agency=Reuters |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=May 27, 2011 |archive-date=May 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524195035/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/11/business/analyst-settles-trump-lawsuit.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly before [[Trump Taj Mahal]] opened in April 1990, the analyst had said that the project would fail by the end of that year. Trump threatened to sue the analyst's firm unless the analyst recanted or was fired. The analyst refused to retract the statements, and his firm fired him for ostensibly unrelated reasons.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/27/business/analyst-who-criticized-trump-casino-is-ousted.html |title=Analyst Who Criticized Trump Casino Is Ousted |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 27, 1990 |last=Henriques |first=Diana |access-date=May 27, 2011 |archive-date=February 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206183341/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/27/business/analyst-who-criticized-trump-casino-is-ousted.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump Taj Mahal declared bankruptcy in November 1990, the first of several such bankruptcies.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/17/business/trump-47-million-short-gives-investors-50-of-his-prize-casino.html |title=Trump, $47 million Short, Gives Investors 50% of His Prize Casino |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 17, 1990 |last=Hylton |first=Richard |access-date=May 27, 2011 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215024812/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/17/business/trump-47-million-short-gives-investors-50-of-his-prize-casino.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[NYSE]] later ordered the firm to compensate the analyst $750,000; the analyst did not release the details of his settlement with Trump.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnston |first1=David |title=Analyst Gets Last Laugh On Trump |url=http://articles.philly.com/1991-10-04/business/25813811_1_donald-trump-taj-marvin-b-roffman |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=October 4, 1991|access-date=March 16, 2016|archive-date=March 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329081308/http://articles.philly.com/1991-10-04/business/25813811_1_donald-trump-taj-marvin-b-roffman |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1991, Trump sued the manufacturers of a helicopter that crashed in 1989, killing three executives of his New Jersey hotel casino business.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnston |first1=David |title=Trump Files Suit Over Crash That Killed Executives |url=http://articles.philly.com/1991-03-02/news/25790988_1_trump-s-atlantic-city-donald-trump-trump-attorney |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=March 2, 1991 |access-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-date=March 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329081311/http://articles.philly.com/1991-03-02/news/25790988_1_trump-s-atlantic-city-donald-trump-trump-attorney |url-status=dead }}</ref> The helicopter fell {{convert|2,800|ft|m}} after the main four-blade rotor and tail rotor broke off the craft, killing Jonathan Benanav, an executive of Trump Plaza, and two others: Mark Grossinger Etess, president of Trump Taj Mahal, and Stephen F. Hyde, chief executive of the Atlantic City casinos.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Kathy |last1=Brennan |first2=Darryl |last2=Figueroa |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title=Deaths Leave Fond Memories 'The Mood Here Is Really Sad' |url=http://articles.philly.com/1989-10-11/news/26115172_1_trump-plaza-mark-grossinger-etess-casino|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=October 11, 1989|access-date=March 15, 2016|archive-date=March 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329081314/http://articles.philly.com/1989-10-11/news/26115172_1_trump-plaza-mark-grossinger-etess-casino|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=David |last1=Johnston |first2=Michael |last2=Ruane |first3=Mike |last3=Shurman |first4=John Way |last4=Jennings |first5=Bill |last5=Sokolic |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title=Three Top Trump Casino Executives, Two Others Die In Helicopter Crash |url=http://articles.philly.com/1989-10-11/news/26119565_1_helicopter-crash-main-rotor-agusta-109a |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=October 11, 1989|access-date=May 25, 2016|archive-date=March 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329081319/http://articles.philly.com/1989-10-11/news/26119565_1_helicopter-crash-main-rotor-agusta-109a |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hanley |first1=Robert |title=Copter Crash Kills 3 Aides Of Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/11/nyregion/copter-crash-kills-3-aides-of-trump.html |work=The New York Times |date=October 11, 1989 |access-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-date=March 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315112201/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/11/nyregion/copter-crash-kills-3-aides-of-trump.html |url-status=live }}</ref> One of the defendant companies was owned by the Italian government, providing a basis for [[removal jurisdiction|removing]] it to federal court, where the case was dismissed. The [[U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit]] upheld the dismissal in 1992, and the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] denied Trump's [[Certiorari|petition to hear the case]] in the same year.<ref name="1992Case">{{cite news|last1=Asseo|first1=Laurie|title=Court Won't Revive Trump Suit in Employee Deaths|url=https://apnews.com/article/bb355c57fdc54b1b4a21b27b042395af |work=Associated Press |date=October 5, 1992 |access-date=March 14, 2016|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214051015/https://apnews.com/article/bb355c57fdc54b1b4a21b27b042395af|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1993, Donald Trump sued [[Jay Pritzker]], a Chicago financier and Trump's business partner since 1979 on the Grand Hyatt hotel. Trump alleged that Pritzker overstated earnings in order to collect excessive management fees.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Henriques |first1=Diana |title=Trump Sues Pritzker As a Feud Goes Public |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/29/business/trump-sues-pritzker-as-a-feud-goes-public.html |work=The New York Times |date=July 29, 1993 |access-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128152142/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/29/business/trump-sues-pritzker-as-a-feud-goes-public.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1994, Pritzker sued Trump for violating their agreement by, among other ways, failing to remain solvent.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Henriques |first1=Diana |title=COMPANY NEWS; Pritzker vs. Trump, and Vice Versa |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/29/business/company-news-pritzker-vs-trump-and-vice-versa.html |work=The New York Times |date=March 29, 1994 |access-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-date=April 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423103631/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/29/business/company-news-pritzker-vs-trump-and-vice-versa.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The two parties ended the feud in 1995 in a sealed settlement, in which Trump retained some control of the hotel and Pritzker would receive reduced management fees and pay Trump's legal expenses.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Henriques|first1=Diana|title=COMPANY NEWS; Trump Agrees To End Feud Over Hotel|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/06/business/company-news-trump-agrees-to-end-feud-over-hotel.html|work=The New York Times|date=May 6, 1995|access-date=March 10, 2016|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215024736/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/06/business/company-news-trump-agrees-to-end-feud-over-hotel.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1993, [[Vera Coking]] sued Trump and his demolition contractor for damage to her home during construction of the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino.<ref name="Herszenhorn_7/21/1998">{{cite web |last1=Herszenhorn |first1=David M. |title=Widowed Homeowner Foils Trump in Atlantic City |website=The New York Times |date=July 21, 1998 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/21/nyregion/widowed-homeowner-foils-trump-in-atlantic-city.html |access-date=May 10, 2018 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215024727/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/21/nyregion/widowed-homeowner-foils-trump-in-atlantic-city.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1997, she dropped the suit against Trump and settled with her contractor for $90,000.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Amy S. |last1=Rosenberg |date=February 19, 1997 |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |title=Homeowner Drops Trump Suit Vera Coking; Accepted a $90,000 Settlement From the Casino Mogul's Contractor, For Damages to Her Home. She's Still Fighting to Keep the House |url=http://articles.philly.com/1997-02-19/news/25533159_1_donald-trump-trump-plaza-eminent-domain |access-date=May 25, 2016 |archive-date=March 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329081325/http://articles.philly.com/1997-02-19/news/25533159_1_donald-trump-trump-plaza-eminent-domain |url-status=dead }}</ref> Coking had refused to sell her home to Trump and ultimately won a 1998 Supreme Court decision that prevented Atlantic City from using [[eminent domain]] to condemn her property.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 24, 2013 |url=https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/asking-price-drops-on-house-vera-coking-refused-to-sell/article_70e10cfc-6855-5fab-a1fe-f9cdfdba584f.html |access-date=March 10, 2023 |title=Asking price drops on house Vera Coking refused to sell to Trump |first=Lynda |last=Cohen |website=Press of Atlantic City |archive-date=April 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403223109/https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/asking-price-drops-on-house-vera-coking-refused-to-sell/article_70e10cfc-6855-5fab-a1fe-f9cdfdba584f.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/one-time-trump-nemesis-91-is-moving-on/ |title=One-time Trump nemesis, 91, is moving on |website=CBS News |date=July 31, 2014 |access-date=February 5, 2019 |archive-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015926/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/one-time-trump-nemesis-91-is-moving-on/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1996, Trump was sued by more than 20 African-American residents of Indiana who charged that Trump reneged on promises to hire 70% of his work force from the minority community for his riverboat casino on Lake Michigan. The suit also charged that he hadn't honored his commitments to steer sufficient contracts to minority-owned businesses in Gary, Indiana. The suit was eventually dismissed due to procedural and jurisdiction issues.<ref>{{cite web |title=Actions Taken by the Commission |year=1997 |access-date=October 3, 2017 |website=Indiana Gaming Commission |url=https://www.in.gov/igc/publications/annual-reports/cy-1997-annual-report/actions-taken-by-the-commission/ |quote=The Complaint alleges that both casinos failed to hire the promised percentages of minority Lake County residents. |archive-date=October 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004041214/http://www.in.gov/igc/2529.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Feiden |first=Douglas |title=Trump Hit with Race Suit; Blacks: Don Dealt Us out of Casino Jobs |date=June 10, 1996 |access-date=October 3, 2017 |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/money/trump-hit-race-suit-blacks-don-dealt-casino-jobs-article-1.726389 |quote=The suit also alleged that [Trump] hasn't honored his commitments to steer sufficient contracts to minority-owned businesses in Gary |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526115409/https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/money/trump-hit-race-suit-blacks-don-dealt-casino-jobs-article-1.726389 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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In 1992, Trump sued ex-wife [[Ivana Trump]] for not honoring a gag clause in their divorce agreement by disclosing facts about him in her bestselling book. Trump won the gag order.<ref>{{cite web |last=Baumgold |first=Julie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BeUCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA36 |url-status=live |title=Fighting Back: Trump Scrambles off the Canvas |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022003306/https://books.google.com/books?id=BeUCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA36 |access-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-date=October 22, 2016 |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |pages=36, 40 |date=November 9, 1992 |quote=He suffered over her few weeks on the best-seller list and finally won his gag order.... }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Justices Won't Consider Lifting Ivana's Gag Order |url=https://www.deseret.com/1992/10/23/19024402/justices-won-t-consider-lifting-ivana-s-gag-order |work=Deseret News |date=October 23, 1992 |access-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201123759/https://www.deseret.com/1992/10/23/19024402/justices-won-t-consider-lifting-ivana-s-gag-order |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lacher |first1=Irene |title=Ivana's New Trump Card: The Donald's History, but His Ex Is Conquering Other Worlds, Including Price Club |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-26-vw-1119-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 26, 1992 |access-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-date=February 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205082139/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-04-26/news/vw-1119_1_ivana-trump/2 |url-status=live}}</ref> The divorce was granted in 1990 on grounds that Ivana claimed Donald Trump's treatment of her was "cruel and inhuman treatment".<ref>{{cite web |first=James |last=Barron |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/12/nyregion/trumps-get-divorce-next-who-gets-what.html |title=Trumps Get Divorce; Next, Who Gets What? |date=December 12, 1990 |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 10, 2017 |archive-date=January 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128233848/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/12/nyregion/trumps-get-divorce-next-who-gets-what.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="crimhis">{{cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trumps-criminal-history-s_b_11983400 |title=Trump's Criminal History Should Be Front and Center |first1=Melissa |last1=Bartick |date=September 14, 2016 |work=HuffPost |access-date=September 15, 2016 |archive-date=September 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915170550/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-bartick/trumps-criminal-history-s_b_11983400.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Years later, Ivana said that she and Donald "are the best of friends".<ref>{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Eliza |access-date=March 10, 2023 |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ivana-trump-denies-accusing-donald-trump-rape-daily-beast-120721 |title=Ivana Trump denies accusing Donald Trump of rape |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611033208/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ivana-trump-denies-accusing-donald-trump-rape-daily-beast-120721 |archive-date=June 11, 2016 |url-status=live |work=[[Politico]] |date=July 28, 2015 |quote=Donald and I are the best of friends and together have raised three children that we love and are very proud of. I have nothing but fondness for Donald and wish him the best of luck on his campaign. Incidentally, I think he would make an incredible president. }}</ref>
A sexual assault claim for child rape at a party of [[Jeffrey Epstein]] in 1994 was filed against Trump in New York in June 2016. It was dropped on November 4, 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ketish |first=Benjamin |date=October 14, 2016 |title=Donald Trump will face child rape charges in court, says lawyer for alleged victim |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/donald-trump-rape-sexual-assault-claims-court-republican-party-us-presidential-florida-a7360636.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020230835/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/donald-trump-rape-sexual-assault-claims-court-republican-party-us-presidential-florida-a7360636.html |archive-date=October 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=David|last=Mikkelson |title=Lawsuit Charges Donald Trump with Raping a 13-Year-Old Girl |url=https://www.snopes.com/news/2016/06/23/donald-trump-rape-lawsuit/ |access-date=October 20, 2018 |work=Snopes |date=November 4, 2016 |archive-date=June 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180606083943/https://www.snopes.com/news/2016/06/23/donald-trump-rape-lawsuit/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-05 |title=Donald Trump's Child-Rape Accuser Drops Lawsuit After Receiving Threats |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-child-rape-accuser-drops-lawsuit-receiving-174226675.html |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US |archive-date=May 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503161426/https://www.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-child-rape-accuser-drops-lawsuit-receiving-174226675.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In April 1997, Jill Harth Houraney filed a $125,000,000 lawsuit against Trump for sexual harassment in 1993, claiming he "'groped' her under her dress and told her he wanted to make her his 'sex slave'". Harth voluntarily withdrew the suit when her husband settled a parallel case. Trump has called the allegations "meritless".<ref name="Harthlawsuit">{{cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-the-new-child-rape-ca_b_10619944 |title=Why The New Child Rape Case Filed Against Donald Trump Should Not Be Ignored |first=Lisa |last=Bloom |date=June 29, 2016 |work=The Huffington Post |access-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630150625/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-bloom/why-the-new-child-rape-ca_b_10619944.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/woman-who-accused-donald-trump-sexual-assault-1997-lawsuit-speaks-out-first-time-1571699 |title=Woman who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault in 1997 lawsuit speaks out for first time |first=Mary |last=Papenfuss |date=July 21, 2016 |work=International Business Times |access-date=July 24, 2016 |archive-date=July 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722121832/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/woman-who-accused-donald-trump-sexual-assault-1997-lawsuit-speaks-out-first-time-1571699 |url-status=live}}</ref>
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=== Defamation matters ===
Also in 2011, an [[New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division|appellate court]] upheld a [[New Jersey Superior Court]] judge's decision dismissing Trump's $5 billion defamation lawsuit against author [[Timothy L. O'Brien]], who had reported in his book, ''[[TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald]]'' (2005), that Trump's true net worth was really between $150 and $250 million. Trump had reportedly told O'Brien he was worth billions and, in 2005, had publicly stated such.<ref name=Goodman15July>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/business/media/16trump.html |title=Trump Suit Claiming Defamation Is Dismissed |work=The New York Times |first=Peter S. |last=Goodman |date=July 15, 2009 |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721074310/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/business/media/16trump.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump said that the author's alleged underestimation of his net worth was motivated by malice and had cost him business deals and damage to his reputation.<ref name=Cohan20March>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/03/the-lawsuits-of-donald-trump/273819/ |title=The Lawsuits of Donald Trump |work=The Atlantic |first=William D. |last=Cohan |date=March 20, 2013 |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-date=July 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725125130/http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/03/the-lawsuits-of-donald-trump/273819/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The appellate court, however, ruled against Trump, citing the consistency of O'Brien's three confidential sources.<ref name=Gardner8Sept>{{cite news |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/donald-trump-loses-libel-lawsuit-232923/ |title=Donald Trump Loses Libel Suit Over Being Called A 'Millionaire' |date=September 8, 2011 |first=Eriq |last=Gardner |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515205111/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/donald-trump-loses-libel-lawsuit-232923/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2014, the former [[Miss Pennsylvania]] [[Sheena Monnin]] ultimately settled a $5 million arbitration judgment against her, having been sued by Trump after alleging that the [[Miss USA 2012]] pageant results were rigged. Monnin wrote on her [[Facebook]] page that another contestant told her during a rehearsal that she had seen a list of the top five finalists, and when those names were called in their precise order, Monnin realized the pageant election process was suspect, compelling Monnin to resign her Miss Pennsylvania title. The Trump Organization's lawyer said that Monnin's allegations had cost the pageant a lucrative [[BP]] sponsorship deal and threatened to discourage women from entering [[Miss USA]] contests in the future.<ref name=Zadrozny31July /> According to Monnin, testimony from the [[Miss Universe Organization]] and [[Ernst & Young]] revealed that the top 15 finalists were selected by pageant directors regardless of preliminary judges' scores.<ref name=Finn5July>{{cite news |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/436744/sheena-monnin-loses-donald-trump-appeal-ex-miss-pennsylvania-says-she-s-glad-truth-is-out-solicits-donations-for-legal-fees |title=Sheena Monnin Loses Donald Trump Appeal: Ex-Miss Pennsylvania Says She's Glad Truth is Out, Solicits Donations for Legal Fees |date=July 5, 2013 |first=Natalie |last=Finn |publisher=E! |access-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-date=July 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730040629/http://www.eonline.com/news/436744/sheena-monnin-loses-donald-trump-appeal-ex-miss-pennsylvania-says-she-s-glad-truth-is-out-solicits-donations-for-legal-fees |url-status=live }}</ref> As part of the settlement, Monnin was not required to retract her original statements.<ref name=Zadrozny31July>{{cite news |publisher=The Daily Beast |date=July 31, 2015 |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/31/trump-lawyer-bragged-i-destroyed-a-beauty-queen-s-life.html |title=Trump Lawyer Bragged: I 'Destroyed' a Beauty Queen's Life |first1=Brandy|last1=Zadrozny |author-link1=Brandy Zadrozny|first2=Tim |last2=Mak |access-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802054754/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/31/trump-lawyer-bragged-i-destroyed-a-beauty-queen-s-life.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Monnin sued her lawyer for malpractice because he did not attend the arbitration hearing and did not inform Monnin that it was taking place. She said that the settlement "meant she never had to pay Trump a dollar out of her own pocket."<ref>{{cite news |last=Graves |first=Lucia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/04/sheena-monnin-donald-trump-miss-usa-lawsuit |title=The Miss USA hopeful sued by Trump: 'There are ways to stand your ground' |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=September 4, 2016 |access-date=December 31, 2021 |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506004126/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/04/sheena-monnin-donald-trump-miss-usa-lawsuit |url-status=live }}</ref>
On January 17, 2017, [[Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations#Summer Zervos (2007)|Summer Zervos]], represented by attorney [[Gloria Allred]], filed a defamation suit against President-elect Donald Trump for claiming that she had lied in her public sexual assault allegations against him.<ref>{{cite news|last=Twohey|first=Megan|title=Former 'Apprentice' Contestant Files Defamation Suit Against Trump|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/us/former-apprentice-contestant-files-defamation-suit-against-trump.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 17, 2017|access-date=January 17, 2017|archive-date=January 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119051957/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/us/former-apprentice-contestant-files-defamation-suit-against-trump.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2021, a New York appeals court dismissed Trump's appeal and allowed the suit to proceed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scannell |first=Kara |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/30/politics/summer-zervos-defamation-lawsuit-donald-trump/index.html |title=Judge allows Summer Zervos' defamation lawsuit against Trump to proceed now that he's out of office |work=[[CNN]] |date=March 30, 2021 |access-date=December 31, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115073831/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/30/politics/summer-zervos-defamation-lawsuit-donald-trump/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Later in the year, the court ordered Trump to answer questions under oath, but Zervos withdrew from the case before Trump had to testify.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Shayna |last2=Fahrenthold |first2=David |date=November 12, 2021 |title=Former 'Apprentice' contestant Summer Zervos ends defamation lawsuit against Trump |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/summer-zervos-trump-lawsuit--dropped/2021/11/12/23a664a0-43fa-11ec-9ea7-3eb2406a2e24_story.html |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-date=November 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112234318/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/summer-zervos-trump-lawsuit--dropped/2021/11/12/23a664a0-43fa-11ec-9ea7-3eb2406a2e24_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="testify"/>
Former FBI agent [[Peter Strzok]] (who was fired and seeks to be reinstated) and former FBI lawyer [[List of FBI controversies|Lisa Page]] (who resigned and seeks back pay) have filed lawsuits against Trump. They both claim that their job losses were political retribution for criticizing Trump in their text messages with each other before his 2016 election. In February 2023, a judge said that Trump could be deposed in these lawsuits.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Nick |last=Visser |date=2023-02-24 |title=Trump Can Be Deposed In Lawsuits By Ex-FBI Officials, Judge Rules |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-deposed-fbi-lawsuit_n_63f7faafe4b0616708e0b22d |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=[[HuffPost]] |language=en |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823083444/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-deposed-fbi-lawsuit_n_63f7faafe4b0616708e0b22d |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2021, Trump sued ''The New York Times'', three of its journalists, and his niece [[Mary L. Trump]] in New York County Supreme Court over disclosure of some of his tax information in a 2018 article in the ''Times.'' The article,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Barstow |first1=David |last2=Craig |first2=Susanne |last3=Buettner |first3=Russ |date=2018-10-02 |title=Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches From His Father |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/02/us/politics/donald-trump-tax-schemes-fred-trump.html,%20https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/02/us/politics/donald-trump-tax-schemes-fred-trump.html |access-date=2024-03-11 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> which went on to win a Pulitzer prize, revealed that Trump had received over $400 million from his father and had used questionable techniques to minimize his tax burden.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |date=2023-05-03 |title=Judge Dismisses Trump's Lawsuit Against NY Times Over Report on His Taxes |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-03/ny-times-wins-dismissal-of-trump-suit-over-report-on-his-taxes |access-date=2024-03-11 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823083445/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-03/ny-times-wins-dismissal-of-trump-suit-over-report-on-his-taxes |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump claimed that the journalists had caused Mary Trump to breach a confidentiality agreement in order to obtain the information.<ref name=":7" /> The case against the ''Times'' and its journalists was dismissed in May 2023 on First Amendment grounds.<ref name=":7" /> Trump was ordered to pay the legal costs of the ''New York Times'' and paid $392,000 in February 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Passantino |first=Jon |date=2024-02-27 |title=Trump pays $392k in legal fees to New York Times after failed lawsuit over disclosure of his tax documents |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/26/media/legal-fees-new-york-times-donald-trump/index.html |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327224222/https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/26/media/legal-fees-new-york-times-donald-trump/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On July 28, 2023, a federal district court judge dismissed an October 2022 Trump lawsuit against CNN, stating that CNN's multiple uses of the term "big lie" about Trump's claims of election fraud did not constitute [[Cause of action|actionable]] [[defamation]].<ref name="Politico_20230729" /> The judge wrote that CNN's statements were opinion, not factually verifiable statements, and that "no reasonable viewer" would infer that "Trump advocates the persecution and genocide of Jews or any other group of people".<ref name="Politico_20230729">{{cite news |last1=Zhang |first1=Andrew |title=Judge dismisses Trump's 'Big Lie' lawsuit against CNN |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/29/judge-dismisses-trump-defamation-lawsuit-00108871 |work=[[Politico]] |date=July 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230729194622/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/29/judge-dismisses-trump-defamation-lawsuit-00108871 |archive-date=July 29, 2023 |url-status=live }} Suit was dismissed "[[Prejudice (legal term)|with prejudice]]", meaning Trump could not file a similarly-reasoned lawsuit again.</ref>
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In December 2022, Trump sued the [[Pulitzer Prize]] board for defamation. Trump had requested the board to revoke the prize they had awarded to ''[[The Washington Post]]'' and ''[[The New York Times]]'' in 2018 for their reporting on [[Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election]]. The board rejected his request, stating that their "reviews concluded 'no passages or headlines, contentions or assertions in any of the winning submissions were discredited by facts that emerged subsequent to the conferral of the prizes.'" Trump's suit alleged that the statement was malicious and intended to damage his reputation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schonfeld |first1=Zach |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/3775079-trump-sues-pulitzer-board-for-defamation-in-defending-winning-russia-collusion-stories/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214183843/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/3775079-trump-sues-pulitzer-board-for-defamation-in-defending-winning-russia-collusion-stories/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 14, 2022 |title=Trump sues Pulitzer board for defamation in defending winning Russia collusion stories |work=[[The Hill (magazine)|The Hill]] |date=December 14, 2022 |access-date=December 25, 2022}}</ref>
In October 2023,<ref name="Casciani_10/16/2023">{{cite web | last=Casciani | first=Dominic | title=Trump seeks 'vindication' in UK courts over ex-spy's dossier on alleged Russian sex bribes | website=[[BBC]] | date=October 16, 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67123583 | access-date=February 1, 2024 | archive-date=February 1, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201183748/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67123583 | url-status=live }}</ref> Trump filed a lawsuit in London against [[Orbis Business Intelligence]] and [[Christopher Steele]] (who was later removed from the suit) alleging that Orbis violated British data protection laws when compiling a 2016 dossier about Trump, later called the [[Steele dossier]]. Trump accused Steele of making "'shocking and scandalous claims' that were false and harmed his reputation".<ref name="Lawless_2/1/2024">{{cite web | last=Lawless | first=Jill | title=UK judge dismisses Trump's lawsuit over dossier containing 'shocking and scandalous claims' | website=[[Associated Press]] | date=February 1, 2024 | url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-steele-dossier-uk-lawsuit-535099946dc49c15640dfb8838fe2749 | access-date=February 1, 2024 | archive-date=February 1, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201102637/https://apnews.com/article/trump-steele-dossier-uk-lawsuit-535099946dc49c15640dfb8838fe2749 | url-status=live }}</ref> Trump's witness statement said: "I can confirm that I did not, at any time engage in perverted sexual behaviour including the hiring of prostitutes to engage in 'golden showers' in the presidential suite of a hotel in Moscow."<ref name="Casciani_10/16/2023" /> Trump asserted "The inaccurate personal data in the Dossier has, and continues, to cause me significant damage and distress."<ref name="Gordon_2/1/2024">{{cite magazine | last=Gordon | first=Anna | title=U.K. Judge Throws Out Trump Lawsuit Over Ex-Spy's Dossier | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=February 1, 2024 | url=https://time.com/6590797/uk-judge-dismisses-trump-lawsuit-steele-dossier-orbis/ | access-date=February 1, 2024 | archive-date=February 1, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201125709/https://time.com/6590797/uk-judge-dismisses-trump-lawsuit-steele-dossier-orbis/ | url-status=live }}</ref> On February 1, 2024, the High Court sided with Orbis and dismissed Trump's claim stating that the filing was outside the six-year period of limitations<ref name="Boffey_2/1/2024">{{cite web | last=Boffey | first=Daniel | title=Donald Trump's 'sex and bribes' data protection case rejected by UK court | website=[[The Guardian]] | date=February 1, 2024 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/01/donald-trump-sex-bribes-data-protection-claim-rejected-by-uk-court | access-date=February 1, 2024 | archive-date=August 23, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823084031/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/01/donald-trump-sex-bribes-data-protection-claim-rejected-by-uk-court | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Uebelacker_2/1/2024">{{cite web | last=Uebelacker | first=Erik | title=London judge tosses Trump's 'Steele dossier' lawsuit | website=[[Courthouse News Service]] | date=February 1, 2024 | url=https://www.courthousenews.com/london-judge-tosses-trumps-steele-dossier-lawsuit/ | access-date=February 22, 2024 | archive-date=February 22, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222001710/https://www.courthousenews.com/london-judge-tosses-trumps-steele-dossier-lawsuit/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TrumpvOrbis_2/1/2024">{{cite web | date=February 1, 2024 | title=Between President Donald J. Trump and Orbis Business Intelligence Limited, Case No: KB-2022-004403 | website=[[High Court of Justice]], [[King's Bench Division]] | url=https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/uk-judge-trump-orbis-steele-dossier.pdf | access-date=February 22, 2024 | archive-date=February 22, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222001715/https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/uk-judge-trump-orbis-steele-dossier.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> and the case was "bound to fail".<ref name="Melley_3/7/2024" /> In March 2024, Trump was ordered to pay legal fees of £300,000 ($382,000) to Orbis.<ref name="Melley_3/7/2024">{{cite web | last=Melley | first=Brian | title=Trump is ordered to pay legal fees after failed lawsuit over the Steele dossier | website=[[Associated Press]] | date=March 7, 2024 | url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-steele-dossier-uk-lawsuit-russia-55427915a83f33a8ead484109b8a89f6 | access-date=March 9, 2024 | archive-date=April 3, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403030932/https://apnews.com/article/trump-steele-dossier-uk-lawsuit-russia-55427915a83f33a8ead484109b8a89f6 | url-status=live }}</ref>
===Financial matters===
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==== ACN lawsuit ====
{{Main|ACN Inc.}}
Investors sued Donald Trump and his family for fraud, false advertising, and unfair competition. They alleged that Trump recommended the multi-level marketing company ACN as a good investment and that Trump did not disclose that he was being paid by ACN.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-relationship-acn-mlm-company-lawsuit-2020-10 |date=October 21, 2020 |title=Inside Trump's ties to the multi-level marketing company that gave him $8.8 million when he was approaching financial ruin |first=Yelena |last=Dzhanova |website=Business Insider |access-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-date=February 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227161131/https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-relationship-acn-mlm-company-lawsuit-2020-10 |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2024, a U.S. District Judge dismissed the case from federal court, recommending plaintiffs file in state courts.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schoonover |first=Nika |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/federal-judge-dumps-pyramid-scheme-lawsuit-against-trump/ |title=Federal judge dumps pyramid scheme lawsuit against Trump |work=[[Courthouse News Service]] |date=January 12, 2024 |access-date=February 5, 2024}}</ref>
==== Mary L. Trump lawsuit ====
{{Further|Fred Trump#Wealth and death|Fred Trump Jr.| Mary L. Trump #Conflicts within the Trump family |Too Much and Never Enough}}
In September 2020, Trump's niece, [[Mary L. Trump]], sued Trump and his siblings [[Robert Trump|Robert]] and [[Maryanne Trump Barry|Maryanne Trump]], alleging that they fraudulently kept her and her brother out of the will of [[Fred Trump]] (Donald's father), including by conspiring with a trustee assigned to her, and acted to devalue her interests in the family business—effectively defrauding her of tens of millions of dollars. Further, she alleges that these accomplices pressured her to sign a settlement agreement by threatening to bankrupt interests benefitting her and cut off the healthcare insurance for her infant nephew, who was then suffering from [[cerebral palsy]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Orden|first=Erica|date=September 24, 2020|title=Mary Trump sues President and his siblings for fraud, calling it the family 'way of life'|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/24/politics/mary-trump-lawsuit/index.html|access-date=September 25, 2020|website=CNN|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925055802/https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/24/politics/mary-trump-lawsuit/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Her suit was dismissed in November 2022, and she appealed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump's Niece Seeks to Revive Fraud Suit Over Family Fortune|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-06/trump-s-niece-seeks-to-revive-fraud-suit-over-family-fortune?leadSource=uverify%20wall|publisher=Bloomberg|date=December 6, 2022|access-date=April 6, 2023|archive-date=August 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823083949/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-06/trump-s-niece-seeks-to-revive-fraud-suit-over-family-fortune?leadSource=uverify%20wall|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2023, her appeal was denied.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Trump's niece, Mary Trump, loses effort to revive lawsuit against him | website=ABC News | date=2023-06-22 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/trumps-niece-mary-trump-loses-effort-revive-lawsuit/story?id=100318516 | ref={{sfnref | ABC News | 2023}} | access-date=2023-08-15 | archive-date=August 23, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823084005/https://abcnews.go.com/US/trumps-niece-mary-trump-loses-effort-revive-lawsuit/story?id=100318516 | url-status=live }}</ref>
==== Copyright infringement ====
In September 2020, musician [[Eddy Grant]] sued Trump for unauthorized use of Grant's 1983 chart hit "[[Electric Avenue (song)|Electric Avenue]]" in an August 2020 presidential campaign video. Trump posted the video on [[Twitter]] where it was viewed more than 13 million times before Twitter took it down after Grant's copyright complaint. Grant's song plays during 40 seconds of the animated 55-second video.<ref name="cnn9/1/20">{{cite news |last=LeBlanc |first=Paul |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/01/politics/eddy-grant-trump-campaign-electric-avenue/index.html |title=Twitter removes Trump campaign video featuring 'Electric Avenue' after complaint from musician Eddy Grant |work=[[CNN]] |date=September 1, 2020 |access-date=December 1, 2023 |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823083953/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/01/politics/eddy-grant-trump-campaign-electric-avenue/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="abc10/19/21">{{cite news |last=Katersky |first=Aaron |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-versus-electric-avenues-eddy-grant/story?id=80664068 |title=Donald Trump versus 'Electric Avenue'{{'}}s Eddy Grant |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=December 1, 2023 |archive-date=December 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203180332/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-versus-electric-avenues-eddy-grant/story?id=80664068 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Brittain |first=Blake |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/trump-asks-court-trim-electric-avenue-copyright-lawsuit-2023-09-15/ |title=Trump asks court to trim 'Electric Avenue' copyright lawsuit |work=[[Reuters]] |date=September 15, 2023 |access-date=December 1, 2023}}</ref> Trump unsuccessfully attempted to have the suit dismissed, citing [[Fair use (U.S. trademark law)|fair use]] and "absolute presidential immunity".<ref>{{cite news |last=Brittain |first=Blake |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/trump-loses-bid-escape-electric-avenue-copyright-lawsuit-2021-09-28/ |title=Trump loses bid to escape 'Electric Avenue' copyright lawsuit |work=[[Reuters]] |date=September 29, 2021 |access-date=December 1, 2023 |archive-date=December 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203180335/https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/trump-loses-bid-escape-electric-avenue-copyright-lawsuit-2021-09-28/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="guardian4/1/22">{{cite news |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/01/trump-lawsuit-eddy-grant-electric-avenue |title=Trump may face day in court thanks to lawsuit from reggae singer Eddy Grant |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=April 1, 2022 |access-date=December 1, 2023 |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823084010/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/01/trump-lawsuit-eddy-grant-electric-avenue |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Carlisle |first=Stephen |url=http://copyright.nova.edu/electric-avenue/ |title="Electric Avenue" Derails Trump Train |work=[[Nova Southeastern University]] |date=September 30, 2021 |access-date=December 1, 2023 |archive-date=November 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130162441/http://copyright.nova.edu/electric-avenue/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Grant asked for $300,000 in damages.<ref name="guardian4/1/22"/> Trump's attorney told the court that the deposition contained sensitive information about Trump's presidential campaign strategy. He asked that Trump and campaign advisor [[Dan Scavino]]'s testimony be permanently sealed because it would give an "unwarranted competitive advantage" to his opponents in the 2024 presidential election, and because it "could be used against them in other, parallel, litigations unrelated to this matter.".<ref name="reuters9/25/23">{{cite news |last=Brittain |first=Blake |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/trump-electric-avenue-singer-spar-over-ex-presidents-testimony-2023-09-25/ |title=Trump, 'Electric Avenue' singer spar over ex-president's testimony |work=[[Reuters]] |date=September 25, 2023 |access-date=December 1, 2023}}</ref> The case, Grant v. Trump (1:20-cv-07103), is pending in federal court in the Southern District New York.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/18196393/grant-v-trump/ |title=Grant v. Trump (1:20-cv-07103), District Court, S.D. New York |work=[[CourtListener]] |date=September 1, 2020 |access-date=December 1, 2023 |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823083959/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/18196393/grant-v-trump/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On August 11, 2024, the estate of musician [[Isaac Hayes]] filed a lawsuit against Trump for unauthorized use of Hayes' 1966 chart hit "[[Hold On, I'm Comin' (song)|Hold On, I'm Comin']]" across 134 campaign rallies. Hayes' estate demanded a "cessation of use, removal of all related videos, a public disclaimer, and payment of $3 million in licensing fees".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=2024-08-12 |title=Isaac Hayes Estate Sues Donald Trump for Using 'Hold On, I'm Coming' at Rallies |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/isaac-hayes-estate-sues-donald-trump-1235750921/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=2024-08-12 |title=Isaac Hayes' Family Threatens Donald Trump's Campaign With Copyright Lawsuit Over Use Of "Hold On, I'm Coming" |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/isaac-hayes-trump-hold-on-copyright-infringement-1236037793/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=August 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812162154/https://deadline.com/2024/08/isaac-hayes-trump-hold-on-copyright-infringement-1236037793/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On August 21, 2024, the record label of singer [[Beyoncé]] sent a cease-and-desist notice to Trump's presidential campaign for unauthorized use of Beyonce's 2016 hit single "[[Freedom (Beyoncé song)|Freedom]]" in a promotional video. The song was used in the background of a video featuring Trump getting off a plane in Michigan and posted to Twitter by campaign spokesman [[Steven Cheung (political advisor)|Steven Cheung]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=2024-08-21 |title=Beyoncé Threatens Cease-and-Desist Over Trump Campaign's 'Freedom' Video |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beyonce-threatens-cease-and-desist-trump-campaign-freedom-video-1235084830/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823084458/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beyonce-threatens-cease-and-desist-trump-campaign-freedom-video-1235084830/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eggertsen |first=Chris |date=2024-08-22 |title=Beyoncé Sends Donald Trump Campaign Cease-and-Desist Over ‘Freedom’ Use (Updated) |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/beyonce-label-sends-donald-trump-cease-and-desist-freedom-use/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=August 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822012335/https://www.billboard.com/pro/beyonce-label-sends-donald-trump-cease-and-desist-freedom-use/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By the next day, it was reported that the video was deleted from Cheung's account.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClay |first=Caché |title=Trump's campaign removes 'Freedom' video after reports Beyoncé sent cease and desist |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/08/22/trumps-team-removes-beyonce-freedom-video/74893179007/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823084459/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/08/22/trumps-team-removes-beyonce-freedom-video/74893179007/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Breach of contract matters ===
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In 2015, Trump sued [[Univision]], demanding $500 million for [[breach of contract]] and defamation when they dropped their planned broadcast of the [[Miss USA]] pageant. The network said that the decision was made because of Trump's "insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tan|first1=Avianne|title=Donald Trump Files $500M Lawsuit Against Univision Over Miss USA Pageant|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/donald-trump-files-500m-lawsuit-univision-miss-usa/story?id=32138057|work=ABC News|date=June 30, 2015|access-date=March 9, 2016|archive-date=March 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310084129/http://abcnews.go.com/US/donald-trump-files-500m-lawsuit-univision-miss-usa/story?id=32138057|url-status=live}}</ref> Trump settled the lawsuit with Univision CEO [[Randy Falco]] out of court.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stelter|first1=Brian|title=Donald Trump settles with Univision over Miss USA Pageant|url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/02/11/media/donald-trump-univision-settle-miss-usa/index.html|publisher=CNN Money|date=February 11, 2016|access-date=March 9, 2016|archive-date=March 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310030328/http://money.cnn.com/2016/02/11/media/donald-trump-univision-settle-miss-usa/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In July 2015, Trump filed a $10 million lawsuit in [[Superior Court of the District of Columbia|D.C. Superior Court]] for breach of contract against Spanish [[celebrity chef]] [[José Andrés]], claiming that he backed out of a deal to open the flagship restaurant at [[Old Post Office Pavilion|Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Heil |first=Emily |title=Trump sues José Andrés for $10M for backing out of restaurant deal |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2015/07/31/trump-sues-jose-andres-for-10m-for-backing-out-of-restaurant-deal/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 31, 2015 |access-date=August 1, 2015 |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926093452/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2015/07/31/trump-sues-jose-andres-for-10m-for-backing-out-of-restaurant-deal/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TerryAndrés">{{cite news |first=Robert J. |last=Terry |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/morning_call/2016/05/jos-andr-s-will-face-challenges-in-lawsuit-against.html |title=José Andrés will face challenges in lawsuit against Donald Trump |access-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611143902/http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/morning_call/2016/05/jos-andr-s-will-face-challenges-in-lawsuit-against.html |archive-date=June 11, 2016 |url-status=live |work=Washington Business Journal |date=May 2, 2016 }}</ref> Andrés replied that Trump's lawsuit was "both unsurprising and without merit"<ref name=Bennett31July>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/donald-trump-lawsuit-against-chef-jose-andres-washington-120873 |title=Donald Trump delivers on promise to sue chef José Andrés |first1=Kate |last1=Bennett |first2=Daniel |last2=Strauss |date=July 31, 2015 |work=[[Politico]] |access-date=August 19, 2015 |archive-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818074707/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/donald-trump-lawsuit-against-chef-jose-andres-washington-120873.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and filed an $8 million [[counterclaim]] against a Trump Organization subsidiary.<ref name="TerryAndrés"/><ref name="PerlmanAndrés">{{cite news |first=Matthew |last=Perlman |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/712410/it-s-trump-who-owes-8m-in-restaurant-spat-chef-says |access-date=March 10, 2023 |title=It's Trump Who Owes $8M In Restaurant Spat, Chef Says |work=[[Law360]] |date=October 8, 2015 |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823084502/https://www.law360.com/articles/712410/it-s-trump-who-owes-8m-in-restaurant-spat-chef-says |url-status=live }}</ref>
Also in July 2015, Chef [[Geoffrey Zakarian]] decided to withdraw from the [[Old Post Office Pavilion|Washington, D.C., project]] together with Andrés in the wake of Trump's comments on Mexican illegal immigrants, and is expected to lose his own $500,000 restaurant lease deposit as a result.<ref name="Bennett31July" /> Trump denounced and then sued Zakarian in August 2015 for a sum "in excess of $10 million" for lost rent and other damages.<ref name="Sidman5Aug">{{cite news |work=Washington City Paper |date=August 5, 2015 |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2015/08/05/trump-sues-celebrity-chef-geoffrey-zakarian-for-backing-out-of-hotel-restaurant-deal/ |title=Trump Sues Celebrity Chef Geoffrey Zakarian For Backing Out of Hotel Restaurant Deal |first=Jessica |last=Sidman |access-date=August 26, 2015 |archive-date=August 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808212336/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2015/08/05/trump-sues-celebrity-chef-geoffrey-zakarian-for-backing-out-of-hotel-restaurant-deal/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump's lawsuit called Zakarian's offense at his remarks "curious in light of the fact that Mr. Trump's publicly shared views on immigration have remained consistent for many years, and Mr. Trump's willingness to frankly share his opinions is widely known".<ref name="Sidman5Aug" /><ref name="Cooper17Feb">{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/top-shelf/2016/02/trump-will-have-to-show-up-for-d-c-hotel-lawsuit.html|title=Trump will have to show up for D.C. hotel lawsuit|date=February 17, 2016|first=Rebecca|last=Cooper|work=Washington Business Journal|access-date=March 4, 2016|archive-date=March 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329080739/http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/top-shelf/2016/02/trump-will-have-to-show-up-for-d-c-hotel-lawsuit.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
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Disputes with both chefs were eventually settled in April 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-04-10/trump-settles-second-suit-against-chef-who-ditched-d-c-hotel |title=Trump Settles Second Suit Against Chef Who Ditched D.C. Hotel |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |first=Erik |last=Larson |date=April 11, 2017 |access-date=April 13, 2017 |archive-date=April 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413235504/https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-04-10/trump-settles-second-suit-against-chef-who-ditched-d-c-hotel |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2015, restaurant workers at [[Trump SoHo]] filed a lawsuit claiming that from 2009 to at least the time of the filing, gratuities added to customers' checks were illegally withheld from employees. The Trump Organization responded that the dispute is between the employees and their employer, a third-party contractor.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Swalec |first1=Andrea |title=Trump SoHo Hotel Stiffed Caterers Out of Tips, Lawsuit Charges |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160307/soho/trump-soho-hotel-stiffed-caterers-out-of-tips-lawsuit-charges |work=DNA Info |date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=March 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318080703/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160307/soho/trump-soho-hotel-stiffed-caterers-out-of-tips-lawsuit-charges |archive-date=March 18, 2016}}</ref> In 2019, the third-party contractor settled with the workers for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite court|litigants=Deborah Garcia v. Bayrock/Sapir Organization LLC, Donald J. Trump|court=N.Y. Sup.|date=2019|url= https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GarciaSettlement601495.pdf|url-status=live|quote=Defendant Bayrock/Sapir Organization LLC shall fund the Qualified Settlement Fund|text=file|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708204520/https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GarciaSettlement601495.pdf}}</ref>
==== 2018 ====
{{further|Legal affairs of Donald Trump as president}}
In July 2018, Noel Cintron, the personal driver for Donald Trump before he became the president of the United States, filed a lawsuit ''Cintron v Trump Organization LLC'' with the [[New York Supreme Court|Supreme Court of the State of New York]] (Manhattan). The lawsuit claims that during his 25-year employment by Trump, he was not compensated for overtime and the second time his salary was raised he was induced to surrender his health insurance, an action which saved Trump approximately $17,866 per year.<ref>{{Cite news |first1=Christie |last1=Smythe |first2=Chris |last2=Dolmetsch |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-09/trump-s-personal-driver-for-25-years-sues-for-unpaid-overtime |date=July 9, 2018 |title=Trump's Personal Driver for 25 Years Sues for Unpaid Overtime|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=July 9, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=May 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190520011012/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-09/trump-s-personal-driver-for-25-years-sues-for-unpaid-overtime |url-status=live}}</ref> In his lawsuit, Cintron sought $178,200 of overtime back pay, plus $5,000 in penalties that are seen under the New York State Labor Law.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Julia |last=Marsh |url=https://nypost.com/2018/07/09/trump-is-being-sued-by-his-former-chauffeur/|title=Trump being sued for allegedly stiffing his ex-chauffeur|date=July 9, 2018|work=New York Post|access-date=July 9, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=July 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709170304/https://nypost.com/2018/07/09/trump-is-being-sued-by-his-former-chauffeur/|url-status=live}}</ref> Cintron would drop the lawsuit against the Trump Organization on August 30, 2018, with the case being submitted to arbitration for resolution.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/general-news-b71f7697d16342e5881fb09e2b63011b|title=Ex-Trump chauffeur drops suit over unpaid overtime claims|publisher=Associated Press|date=August 30, 2018|accessdate=March 25, 2024|archive-date=March 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325192253/https://apnews.com/general-news-b71f7697d16342e5881fb09e2b63011b|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== 2023 ====
On April 12, 2023, Trump sued his former attorney, [[Michael Cohen (lawyer)|Michael Cohen]], for breach of contract. Trump sought $500 million in damages. Trump dropped the suit on October 5, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=del Valle |first1=Lauren |last2=Cole |first2=Devan |date=2023-04-12 |title=Trump sues Michael Cohen for $500 million, alleging ex-attorney breached his contract |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/12/politics/donald-trump-michael-cohen-lawsuit/index.html |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=CNN Politics |language=en |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412234059/https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/12/politics/donald-trump-michael-cohen-lawsuit/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gerstein |first1=Josh |title=Trump drops suit against former lawyer Michael Cohen |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/05/trump-drops-michael-cohen-00120297 |work=[[Politico]] |date=October 5, 2023 |access-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006020243/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/05/trump-drops-michael-cohen-00120297 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Assault claims===
In September 2015, five men who had demonstrated outside of a [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|Trump presidential campaign]] event at [[Trump Tower]] in New York City sued Donald Trump, alleging that Trump's security staff punched one of them. They said that Trump's security guards had been advised by city police that the protests there were permitted. Several people videotaped the incident.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Diamond|first1=Jeremy|title=Protesters sue Trump after violent encounter with security|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/09/politics/donald-trump-protesters-lawsuit/|work=[[CNN]]|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=March 14, 2016|archive-date=March 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315113646/http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/09/politics/donald-trump-protesters-lawsuit/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Lucas|first2=Emily|last2=Flitter|first3=Lisa|last3=Shumaker|title=Trump security guards assaulted protesters on NY sidewalk, lawsuit claims|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-lawsuit-idUSKCN0R92QS20150909|work=Reuters|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=March 14, 2016|archive-date=March 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315084239/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-lawsuit-idUSKCN0R92QS20150909|url-status=live}}</ref> A New York judge had ordered a videotaped deposition in 2019. Trump invoked presidential privilege, and the deposition was delayed until October 18, 2021. His testimony under oath lasted for over 4 hours.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-deposition-protesters-trump-tower-lawsuit/2021/10/18/0384ca68-304f-11ec-a1e5-07223c50280a_story.html|title=Trump questioned for four hours in lawsuit from protesters allegedly assaulted by his guards|last1=Farenthold|first1=David A.|last2=Jacobs|first2=Shayna|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=October 18, 2021 |access-date=December 31, 2021|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019074827/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-deposition-protesters-trump-tower-lawsuit/2021/10/18/0384ca68-304f-11ec-a1e5-07223c50280a_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="testify">{{Cite news |last1=Scannell |first1=Kara |last2=Duster |first2=Chandelis |title=Trump testifies for over 4 hours in deposition about 2015 alleged assault at Trump Tower |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/18/politics/donald-trump-deposition-2015-case/index.html |access-date=December 31, 2021 |date=October 18, 2021 |work=[[CNN]] |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025142311/https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/18/politics/donald-trump-deposition-2015-case/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The lawsuit was eventually settled in November 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/trump-settles-lawsuit-over-alleged-assaults-trump-tower-protest-2022-11-02/|title=Trump settles lawsuit over alleged assaults at Trump Tower protest|first=Jonathan|last=Stempel|publisher=Reuters|date=November 2, 2022|accessdate=March 25, 2024|archive-date=December 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210163705/https://www.reuters.com/legal/trump-settles-lawsuit-over-alleged-assaults-trump-tower-protest-2022-11-02/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In June 2015, the [[Culinary Workers Union]] filed charges with the [[National Labor Relations Board]] (NLRB), alleging that the owners of [[Trump Hotel Las Vegas]] "violated the federally protected rights of workers to participate in union activities" and engaged in "incidents of alleged physical assault, verbal abuse, intimidation, and threats by management".<ref name="HeuerVegas">{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Heuer |url=http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/10/19/trump-hotel-las-vegas-takes-unions-to-court.htm |title=Trump Hotel Las Vegas Takes Unions to Court |url-status=dead |access-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026170731/http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/10/19/trump-hotel-las-vegas-takes-unions-to-court.htm |archive-date=October 26, 2016 |work=Courthouse News Service |date=October 19, 2016 }}</ref> In October 2015, the Trump Ruffin Commercial and Trump Ruffin Tower I, the owners of Trump Hotel Las Vegas, sued the Culinary Workers Union and another union, alleging that they had knowingly distributed flyers that falsely stated that Donald Trump had stayed at a rival unionized hotel, rather than his own non-unionized hotel, during a trip to Las Vegas.<ref name="ObermanLongTrail"/><ref name="HeuerVegas"/>
[[E. Jean Carroll vs. Donald J. Trump|E. Jean Carroll's defamation and assault claims]] began trial in Manhattan federal court on April 25, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Becky |date=April 9, 2023 |title=What to know about the Trump-E. Jean Carroll trial that is set to begin this month |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/04/09/1168664355/trump-e-jean-carroll-lawsuit-trial |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=NPR |archive-date=May 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507180910/https://www.npr.org/2023/04/09/1168664355/trump-e-jean-carroll-lawsuit-trial |url-status=live }}</ref> On May 9, 2023, after deliberating for less than three hours, a jury of six men and three women found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, but also did not find him liable for rape.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schonfeld |first=Zach |date=2023-05-09 |title=Trump found liable for sexual battery, defamation in E. Jean Carroll trial |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/3994107-trump-sexual-battery-defamation-e-jean-carroll-trial/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=The Hill |language=en-US |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509193627/https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/3994107-trump-sexual-battery-defamation-e-jean-carroll-trial/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The jury then awarded Carroll about $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Queen |first1=Jack |last2=Cohen |first2=Luc |last3=Cohen |first3=Luc |date=2023-05-09 |title=US jury finds Trump sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/jurors-set-deliberate-civil-rape-case-against-donald-trump-2023-05-09/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509190650/https://www.reuters.com/legal/jurors-set-deliberate-civil-rape-case-against-donald-trump-2023-05-09/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 26, 2024, following another trial, Trump was ordered to pay Carroll an additional $83.3 million in damages.<ref name=":272"/>
=== Lawsuit for inciting violence at March 2016 campaign rally ===
During a campaign rally on March 1, 2016, in [[Louisville, Kentucky]], Trump repeatedly said "get 'em out of here" while pointing at anti-Trump protesters as they were forcibly escorted out by his supporters. Three protesters say they were repeatedly shoved and punched while Trump pointed at them from the podium, citing widely shared video evidence of the events. They also cited previous statements by Trump about paying the legal bills of supporters who got violent, or suggesting a demonstrator deserved to be "roughed up."<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/lawsuit-filed-against-trump-over-violence-kentucky-rally-n548896 |title=Lawsuit Filed Against Trump Over Violence at Kentucky Rally |work=NBC News |first=Phil |last=Helsel |date=April 1, 2016 |access-date=April 2, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=April 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402143718/http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/lawsuit-filed-against-trump-over-violence-kentucky-rally-n548896|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Right Side Broadcasting Network |title=Full Speech: Donald Trump Holds Rally in Louisville, KY (3-1-16)|website=[[YouTube]] |date=March 1, 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hzc9yL3_n8&t=29m9s|access-date=April 2, 2017|archive-date=December 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226040452/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hzc9yL3_n8&t=29m9s |url-status=dead |quote=Hillary Clinton does not have - oh, get out of here, get out of here. Look at these people - get out of here, get out! Out! Out! Out! Get out! Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Oh well. Get out! You know, in the old days - which isn't so long ago - when we were less politically correct, that kind of stuff wouldn't have happened. Today, we have to be so nice, so nice, we always have to be so nice. They asked Ted Cruz at the debate, 'what do you think of waterboarding?' and he's like a basket case - 'well, uh, uh, uh' because he didn't want to say yes, because it's not nice. }}</ref><ref name="veteran fights">{{cite web |via=[[YouTube]] |work=Conservative Outfitters |title=Senior Citizen Veteran Fights Protester at Louisville Trump Rally |date=March 2, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILwalNSS3vY |access-date=April 2, 2017 |archive-date=April 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402155427/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILwalNSS3vY |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.apnews.com/6b54b2ed05a246f3a20b499aaf77edb8/Judge-to-Trump:-No-protection-for-speech-inciting-violence|title=Judge to Trump: No protection for speech inciting violence|work=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=April 2, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=April 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402183136/https://apnews.com/6b54b2ed05a246f3a20b499aaf77edb8/Judge-to-Trump:-No-protection-for-speech-inciting-violence|url-status=live}}</ref>
The lawsuit accuses Donald Trump of inciting violence against protesters in [[Louisville, Kentucky]]. The plaintiffs are Kashiya Nwanguma (21), Molly Shah (36) and Henry Brousseau (17). The suit is against Trump, his campaign, and three Trump supporters ([[Matthew Heimbach]], Alvin Bamberger and an unnamed defendant). Bamberger, who was wearing a Veteran's uniform in the video, apologized to the Korean War Veterans Association immediately after the event, writing that he "physically pushed a young woman down the aisle toward the exit" after "Trump kept saying 'get them out, get them out."<ref name=":2" />
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Hale also declined to remove the allegation that Plaintiff Nwanguma, who is African-American, was victim to ethnic, racial and sexist slurs at the rally from the crowd. The judge stated that this context may support claims by the plaintiffs' of incitement and negligence by Trump and the Trump campaign. The judge wrote, "While the words themselves are repulsive, they are relevant to show the atmosphere in which the alleged events occurred."<ref name=":2" />
The judge stated that all people have a duty to use care to prevent foreseeable injury. "In sum, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have adequately alleged that their harm was foreseeable and that the Trump Defendants had a duty to prevent it." The case was referred a federal magistrate, Judge H. Brent Brennenstuhl, who will handle preliminary litigation, discovery and settlement efforts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2017/04/01/judge-lawsuiit-against-trump-supporters-can-proceed/99906880/ |work=Courier Journal |title=Judge: Lawsuit against Trump, supporters can proceed |first=Grace |last=Schneider |date=April 1, 2017 |access-date=May 28, 2017 |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823084502/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2017/04/01/judge-lawsuiit-against-trump-supporters-can-proceed/99906880/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Heimbach filed a separate counterclaim in April 2017, arguing that Trump was "responsible for any injuries" he [Heimbach] "might have inflicted because Mr. Trump directed him and others to take action". Heimbach, "a self-employed landscaper", and a member of the [[Traditionalist Youth Network]], "which advocates separate American 'ethno states', "spends much of his time" online writing "against Jews, gays and immigrants and urging whites to stand up for their race." He wrote his own lawsuit which requested that Trump pay Heimbach's "legal fees, citing a promise Mr. Trump made at an earlier rally to pay legal costs of anyone who removed protesters."<ref name="NYT_2017_Heimbach_counterclaim">{{cite news |title=A Trump Campaign Rally Led to Shoving, and Legal Wrangling, Too |first=David |last=Zucchino |date=May 27, 2017 |access-date=May 28, 2017 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/27/us/a-trump-campaign-rally-led-to-shoving-and-legal-wrangling-too.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=May 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528100033/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/27/us/a-trump-campaign-rally-led-to-shoving-and-legal-wrangling-too.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Heimbach's "counterclaim" against Trump has "probed the limits of free speech and public protest while confronting the courts with a unique legal argument".<ref name="NYT_2017_Heimbach_counterclaim"/> On May 5, Trump's lawyers submitted legal filings that argue that Heimbach's "indemnity claim should be dismissed on the same grounds". According to a University of Virginia law professor, Leslie Kendrick, this indemnity or "impleader" case is "highly unusual."<ref name="NYT_2017_Heimbach_counterclaim"/> New York University's Samuel Issacharoff, a professor of constitutional law, argued that care must be taken to not allow speech, in the "context of a political rally" to be "turned into something that is legally sanctionable."<ref name="NYT_2017_Heimbach_counterclaim"/>
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On December 13, 2018, Trump denied directing Cohen to make hush payments.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-denies-directing-michael-cohen-to-break-the-law-to-buy-the-silence-of-playboy-playmate-and-porn-star/2018/12/13/a2003d30-fed9-11e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html|title=Trump denies directing Michael Cohen to break the law to buy the silence of Playboy playmate and porn star|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=John|last=Wagner|date=December 13, 2018|access-date=December 14, 2018|archive-date=December 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214023907/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-denies-directing-michael-cohen-to-break-the-law-to-buy-the-silence-of-playboy-playmate-and-porn-star/2018/12/13/a2003d30-fed9-11e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That same day, NBC News reported that Trump was present in an August 2015 meeting with Cohen and [[David Pecker]] when they discussed how [[American Media, Inc.|American Media]] could help counter negative stories about Trump's relationships with women, confirming previous reporting by ''The Wall Street Journal''.<ref>{{cite web |first=Tom |last=Winter |date=December 13, 2018 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/trump-was-room-during-hush-money-discussions-nbc-news-confirms-n947536 |title=Trump was in the room during hush money discussions with tabloid publisher |website=NBC News |access-date=December 14, 2018 |archive-date=December 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214032204/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/trump-was-room-during-hush-money-discussions-nbc-news-confirms-n947536 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="central role">{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-played-central-role-in-hush-payoffs-to-stormy-daniels-and-karen-mcdougal-1541786601|title=Donald Trump Played Central Role in Hush Payoffs to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal |first1=Joe |last1=Palazzolo |first2=Nicole |last2=Hong |first3=Michael |last3=Rothfeld |first4=Rebecca Davis |last4=O’Brien |first5=Rebecca |last5=Ballhaus |date=November 9, 2018 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=November 9, 2018 |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321221912/https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-played-central-role-in-hush-payoffs-to-stormy-daniels-and-karen-mcdougal-1541786601|url-status=live}} Full access to WSJ article via [https://twitter.com/rebeccaballhaus/status/1060956637211570176 Twitter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913120131/https://twitter.com/rebeccaballhaus/status/1060956637211570176 |date=September 13, 2019 }}</ref> In 2019, Cohen testified to Congress that Trump did order him to pay Stormy Daniels $130,000 as hush money and then lie about the payment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Five Takeaways From Cohen's Testimony to Congress|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/27/us/politics/cohen-testimony.html|last=Tackett|first=Michael |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 27, 2019|access-date=February 2, 2020|archive-date=January 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122050255/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/27/us/politics/cohen-testimony.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
A criminal investigation initiated by [[New York County District Attorney|Manhattan District Attorney]] [[Cyrus Vance Jr.]] fell dormant. In November 2022, the ''New York Times'' reported Vance's successor [[Alvin Bragg]] was reviving the investigation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manhattan Prosecutors Move to Jump-Start Criminal Inquiry Into Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/21/nyregion/trump-bragg-stormy-daniels.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 21, 2022 |access-date=March 10, 2023 |first1=Jonah E. |last1=Bromwich |first2=Ben |last2=Protess |first3=William K. |last3=Rashbaum |archive-date=March 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329145332/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/21/nyregion/trump-bragg-stormy-daniels.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The ''Times'' reported in March 2023 that Bragg's office had recently signaled to Trump's attorneys that he likely faced indictment in the Daniels matter. Michael Cohen testified before the grand jury on March 13, and prosecutors offered Trump an opportunity to testify too.<ref name="NYT-20230309">{{cite news |last1=Rashbaum |first1=William K. |last2=Profess |first2=Ben |last3=Bromwich |first3=Jonah E. |title=Prosecutors Signal Criminal Charges for Trump Are Likely - The former president was told that he could appear before a Manhattan grand jury next week if he wishes to testify, a strong indication that an indictment could soon follow. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/09/nyregion/trump-potential-criminal-charges-bragg.html |date=March 9, 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309224702/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/09/nyregion/trump-potential-criminal-charges-bragg.html <!---https://archive.today/20230310011922/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/09/nyregion/trump-potential-criminal-charges-bragg.html ---> |archive-date=March 9, 2023 |access-date=March 9, 2023 }}</ref><ref name="WP-20230309">{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Shayna |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |title=New York prosecutors offer Trump a chance to testify before grand jury - It remains unclear whether Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg will seek an indictment at the end of the long-running investigation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/03/09/trump-new-york-grand-jury/ |date=March 9, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230310014408/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/03/09/trump-new-york-grand-jury/ |archivedate=March 10, 2023 |access-date=March 9, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Michael Cohen Testifies in Grand Jury as Trump Indictment Appears Near |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/13/nyregion/michael-cohen-trump-grand-jury.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 15, 2023 |first1=Ben |last1=Protess |first2=Kate |last2=Christobek |first3=William K. |last3=Rashbaum |first4=Jonah E. |last4=Bromwich |access-date=23 January 2024 |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823084502/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/13/nyregion/michael-cohen-trump-grand-jury.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By March 17, federal, state and local law enforcement and security agencies were discussing contingencies for a likely Trump indictment.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dienst |first1=Jonathan |title=Law enforcement agencies are prepping for a possible Trump indictment as early as next week |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/law-enforcement-agencies-are-prepping-possible-trump-indictment-early-rcna75493 |work=NBC News |date=March 17, 2023 |access-date=23 January 2024 |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317205618/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/law-enforcement-agencies-are-prepping-possible-trump-indictment-early-rcna75493 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was indicted on March 30.
Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts on May 30, 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sisak |first1=Michael |last2=Peltz |first2=Jennifer |last3=Tucker |first3=Eric |last4=Price |first4=Michelle |last5=Colvin |first5=Jill |title=Guilty: Trump becomes first former US president convicted of felony crimes |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-deliberations-jury-testimony-verdict-85558c6d08efb434d05b694364470aa0 |work=AP News |date=May 31, 2024 |access-date=12 June 2024 |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717020628/https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-deliberations-jury-testimony-verdict-85558c6d08efb434d05b694364470aa0 |url-status=live }}</ref> He became the first U.S. president to have been convicted of a felony in any state or federal court.
===Lawsuits over congressional subpoenas===
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On October 7, 2019, Judge [[Victor Marrero]] of the federal District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a 75-page ruling that Trump must comply with the subpoena and provide his tax returns to a New York grand jury. Minutes later, however, Trump's attorney filed an emergency request with the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals, which immediately placed a temporary stay on the subpoena.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/07/politics/trump-tax-returns-lawsuit/index.html |title=Judge dismisses Trump request to keep taxes secret in New York |last=Orden |first=Erica |date=October 7, 2019 |website=CNN |access-date=October 7, 2019|archive-date=October 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007152548/https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/07/politics/trump-tax-returns-lawsuit/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In November, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the District Court ruling and ordered Trump to turn over his tax returns to Congress.<ref>{{cite web|title=Appeals court deals blow to Trump in tax return case |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/04/politics/donald-trump-tax-returns-court-ruling/index.html |last=Scannell |first=Kara |work=CNN |date=November 4, 2019 |access-date=February 2, 2020 |archive-date=February 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203044315/https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/04/politics/donald-trump-tax-returns-court-ruling/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Trump soon appealed to the Supreme Court, which blocked the order by the Second Circuit temporarily.<ref>{{cite web|title=Supreme Court temporarily halts court order requiring accountants to turn over Trump's tax returns to Congress|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/18/supreme-court-temporarily-halts-court-order-requiring-accountants-to-turn-over-trumps-tax-returns-to-congress.html|last1=Higgins|first1=Tucker|last2=Pramuk|first2=Jacob|publisher=CNBC|date=November 18, 2019|access-date=February 2, 2020|archive-date=November 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119014424/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/18/supreme-court-temporarily-halts-court-order-requiring-accountants-to-turn-over-trumps-tax-returns-to-congress.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
On February 25, 2021, the [[House Oversight Committee]] in the 117th Congress reissued the subpoena to [[Mazars|Mazars USA]] for the same documents it had previously sought.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wolfe|first=Jan|date=March 3, 2021|title=U.S. House panel reissues subpoena for Trump's tax records|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-trump-taxes-idUSKCN2AV02B|access-date=March 5, 2021|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303231004/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-trump-taxes-idUSKCN2AV02B|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Lawsuits over the January 6 riot===
{{main|January 6 United States Capitol attack}}
''Blassingame v. Trump:'' Two [[U.S. Capitol]] police officers sued Trump for allegedly inciting the protests that took over the [[United States Capitol]] on January 6, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=2 Capitol Police Officers Sue Trump For Injuries Sustained During Jan. 6 Riot |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/03/31/982928605/2-capitol-police-officers-sue-trump-for-injuries-sustained-during-jan-6-riot |website=NPR.org |date=March 31, 2021 |access-date=June 30, 2021 |language=en |last1=Diaz |first1=Jaclyn |archive-date=June 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626095928/https://www.npr.org/2021/03/31/982928605/2-capitol-police-officers-sue-trump-for-injuries-sustained-during-jan-6-riot |url-status=live }}</ref>
''[[Thompson v. Trump]]:'' Congressman [[Bennie Thompson]], the [[NAACP]], and 11 other members of the U.S. House of Representatives sued Trump in February, 2021 for allegedly conspiring to incite the deadly violence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mangan |first=Dan |title=10 more Congress members join lawsuit accusing Trump, Giuliani, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers of Capitol riot conspiracy |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/07/capitol-riot-congress-members-sue-trump-giuliani-proud-boys-oath-keepers-.html |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=CNBC |date=April 7, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
''Swalwell v. Trump:'' Congressman [[Eric Swalwell]] filed a lawsuit against Trump, his son [[Donald Trump Jr.]], and two others of violating federal civil rights laws and local incitement laws after they spoke at a rally near the White House on January 6 before members of the crowd moved on to the Capitol.<ref>{{cite web |title=Second lawsuit filed against Trump over Jan. 6 Capitol riot |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/second-lawsuit-filed-against-trump-over-jan-6-capitol-riot-n1259739 |website=NBC News|first=Pete|last=Williams|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=October 17, 2022|language=en|archive-date=June 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607180309/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/second-lawsuit-filed-against-trump-over-jan-6-capitol-riot-n1259739|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2023, a federal judge denied a request by Trump to toss out the cases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sneed |first=Tierney |date=2023-01-27 |title=Judge allows Capitol Police officers' civil lawsuit against Trump and January 6 rioters to proceed {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/26/politics/capitol-police-civil-lawsuit-trump-rioters/index.html |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823084503/https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/26/politics/capitol-police-civil-lawsuit-trump-rioters/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-18 |title=Judge rejects effort by Donald Trump to toss Jan. 6 lawsuits |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-rejects-effort-by-donald-trump-to-toss-jan-6-lawsuits |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823084532/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-rejects-effort-by-donald-trump-to-toss-jan-6-lawsuits |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump appealed, arguing he was immune.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-02 |title=Justice Department says Trump can be sued by Capitol Police for Jan. 6 actions |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/justice-department-says-trump-can-be-sued-by-capitol-police-for-jan-6-actions |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us |archive-date=May 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515164051/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/justice-department-says-trump-can-be-sued-by-capitol-police-for-jan-6-actions |url-status=live }}</ref> In December, the federal appeals court rejected his argument. As Trump did not appeal to the Supreme Court by a February 2024 deadline, the lawsuits can proceed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Devan |date=2024-02-16 |title=Civil lawsuits seeking to hold Trump accountable for January 6 can move forward |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/16/politics/trump-january-6-civil-lawsuits/index.html |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=February 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217125528/https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/16/politics/trump-january-6-civil-lawsuits/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Lawsuits over social media ban===
On July 7, 2021, Trump announced class action lawsuits against [[Facebook]], [[Twitter]], and [[Google]] for alleged censorship of conservative voices.<ref name="guardian-7jul2021">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=David |title=Trump says he will sue social media giants as he pines for lost platform |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/07/donald-trump-facebook-twitter-google-lawsuit |access-date=July 7, 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=July 7, 2021 |archive-date=July 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707212148/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/07/donald-trump-facebook-twitter-google-lawsuit |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Trump's racketeering lawsuit against Hillary Clinton, the DNC, and others ===
On March 24, 2022, Trump sued [[Hillary Clinton]], the [[Democratic National Committee]] (DNC) and 26 others,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Cohen |first1=Marshall |last2=Polantz |first2=Katelyn |date=2022-03-24 |title=Trump sues Hillary Clinton, DNC and others, alleging conspiracy to link his campaign to Russia |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/24/politics/trump-sues-hillary-clinton/index.html |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=CNN Politics |language=en |archive-date=September 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923041723/https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/24/politics/trump-sues-hillary-clinton/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> alleging that they "maliciously conspired to weave a false narrative that their Republican opponent, Donald J Trump, was colluding with a hostile foreign sovereignty [Russia]" during the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]], and that Trump had lost at least $24 million as a result.<ref name="trump files">{{Cite news |date=March 24, 2022 |title=Trump files lawsuit against Clinton, Democrats for Russia claims |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/03/24/1088694473/trump-lawsuit-clinton-democrats-russia |access-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327035720/https://www.npr.org/2022/03/24/1088694473/trump-lawsuit-clinton-democrats-russia |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act|RICO]] lawsuit, he asked for a jury trial and $72 million in damages.<ref name="trump files" /><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Sonmez |first1=Felicia |last2=Zapotosky |first2=Matt |date=March 24, 2022 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/24/trump-sues-hillary-clinton-others-over-2016-election-he-won/ |title=Trump sues Hillary Clinton, others over 2016 election he won |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-date=March 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325190713/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/24/trump-sues-hillary-clinton-others-over-2016-election-he-won/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |title=Trump sues Hillary Clinton, alleging 'plot' to rig 2016 election against him |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/24/trump-hillary-clinton-russia-lawsuit-2016-election |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=March 24, 2022 |access-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327032109/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/24/trump-hillary-clinton-russia-lawsuit-2016-election |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=March 24, 2022 |url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21510267-22048212-0-70029 |access-date=March 9, 2023 |title=Donald J. Trump v. Hillary R. Clinton, HFACC Inc., Democratic National Committee, et al. |publisher=US District Court Southern District of Florida |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324233530/https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21510267-22048212-0-70029 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In September, U.S. District Judge [[Donald M. Middlebrooks]] dismissed the suit, stating that it "ignored existing laws, U.S. Supreme Court precedent, and basic legal theory". The judge also wrote in a footnote that Trump had the lawsuit filed in the federal courthouse in [[Fort Pierce]], Florida, which has only one federal judge, district judge [[Aileen Cannon]], a Trump appointee.<ref>{{cite news |last=Paglieri |first=Jose |url-status=live |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-went-judge-shopping-and-it-paid-off-in-mar-a-lago-case |title=Trump Went Judge Shopping and It Paid Off in Mar-a-Lago Case |work=[[The Daily Beast]] |date=September 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906204006/https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-went-judge-shopping-and-it-paid-off-in-mar-a-lago-case |archive-date=September 6, 2022 |access-date=November 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bump |first=Philip |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/09/06/trump-fbi-search-judge-special-master/ |title=Why might Trump have wanted Judge Cannon for his Mar-a-Lago challenge? |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 6, 2022 |access-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-date=September 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220906175221/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/09/06/trump-fbi-search-judge-special-master/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump appealed the decision on October 11.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scannel |first=Kara |url=https://cnn.com/2022/10/11/politics/trump-lawsuit-hillary-clinton-russia-probe/index.html |title=Trump appeals judge's dismissal of his sprawling lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and ex-FBI officials over Russia probe |work=[[CNN]] |date=October 11, 2022 |access-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105191246/https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/11/politics/trump-lawsuit-hillary-clinton-russia-probe/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On November 2, Clinton and the other defendants filed a motion in the district court asking for sanctions against Trump's attorneys and to make Trump pay their legal bills of more than $1 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Musgrave |first=Jane |url=https://eu.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/courts/2022/11/02/hillary-clinton-others-want-trump-pay-1-million-sanctions-lawsuit/8239558001/ |title=Make Donald Trump pay $1M-plus in sanctions over lawsuit, Hillary Clinton, other Democrats ask judge |work=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=November 2, 2022 |access-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102161145/https://eu.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/courts/2022/11/02/hillary-clinton-others-want-trump-pay-1-million-sanctions-lawsuit/8239558001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 19, 2023, judge Middlebrooks sanctioned Trump and his attorney, [[Alina Habba]], $938,000 to cover the legal costs for the 31 defendants Trump cited in the suit. Middlebrooks wrote, in part:<blockquote>Here, we are confronted with a lawsuit that should never have been filed, which was completely frivolous, both factually and legally, and which was brought in bad faith for an improper purpose. Mr. Trump is a prolific and sophisticated litigant who is repeatedly using the courts to seek revenge on political adversaries. He is the mastermind of strategic abuse of the judicial process, and he cannot be seen as a litigant blindly following the advice of a lawyer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Judge sanctions Trump, Habba nearly $1 million for 'completely frivolous' Clinton suit |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/19/judge-sanctions-trump-habba-clinton-00078700 |work=[[Politico]] |date=January 19, 2023 |first1=Kyle |last1=Cheney |first2=Josh |last2=Gerstein |access-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-date=March 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309063848/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/19/judge-sanctions-trump-habba-clinton-00078700 |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>On February 3, 2023, Trump offered to post a $1.03 million bond to appeal the judgment.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Papenfuss |first1=Mary |date=2023-02-05 |title=Trump Offers $1 Million Bond In Bid To Appeal Sanctions For Filing 'Frivolous' Conspiracy Suit |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-alina-habba-middlebrooks-sanctions-frivolous-lawsuit_n_63df0d2fe4b0c8e3fc8531a1 |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=August 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820065831/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-alina-habba-middlebrooks-sanctions-frivolous-lawsuit_n_63df0d2fe4b0c8e3fc8531a1 |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 27, 2024, Trump filed an appeal with the [[11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals]], asking to remove the sanctions and reinstate the original lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sforza |first=Lauren |date=2024-02-29 |title=Trump asks court to toss sanctions in failed Clinton suit |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4497339-trump-asks-court-to-toss-sanctions-in-failed-clinton-suit/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Investigations ==
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It has been noted that Trump has experienced a high turnover with respect to the attorneys handling this matter, as well as a large number of prominent lawyers and law firms publicly declining offers to join Trump's legal team.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Kranish|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-legal-dream-team-falters-as-dc-heavyweights-take-a-pass/2017/06/06/a6eb6e9a-4aea-11e7-a186-60c031eab644_story.html|title=Trump's legal dream team falters as D.C. heavyweights take a pass|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 6, 2017|access-date=May 9, 2018|archive-date=May 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510023208/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-legal-dream-team-falters-as-dc-heavyweights-take-a-pass/2017/06/06/a6eb6e9a-4aea-11e7-a186-60c031eab644_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Isikoff|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/four-top-law-firms-turned-requests-represent-trump-122423972.html|title=Four top law firms turned down requests to represent Trump|publisher=[[Yahoo News]]|date=June 6, 2017|access-date=May 9, 2018|archive-date=May 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510115144/https://www.yahoo.com/news/four-top-law-firms-turned-requests-represent-trump-122423972.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
On March 22, 2019, Mueller concluded his investigation and gave the final report to Attorney General [[William Barr]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/22/robert-mueller-submits-special-counsels-russia-probe-report-to-attorney-general-william-barr.html |title=Mueller probe ends: Special counsel submits Russia report to Attorney General William Barr |last=Breuninger |first=Kevin |date=March 22, 2019 |publisher=[[CNBC]] |access-date=March 22, 2019 |archive-date=March 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322210726/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/22/robert-mueller-submits-special-counsels-russia-probe-report-to-attorney-general-william-barr.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 24, Barr sent [[Barr letter|a four-page letter]] to Congress summarizing the findings of the report.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/402973302/Letter |work=[[United States Attorney General]] |title=Barr Letter |first=William P. |last=Barr |via=[[Scribd]] |access-date=March 24, 2019 |date=March 24, 2019 |archive-date=September 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919012024/https://www.scribd.com/document/402973302/Letter |url-status=live }}</ref> The report writes that the investigation "identified numerous links between the Russian government and the Trump campaign", found that Russia "perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency" and that the 2016 Trump presidential campaign "expected it would benefit electorally" from Russian hacking efforts. However, ultimately "the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities".<ref name="GlobeGraphic">{{cite web |last1=Ostriker |first1=Rebecca |last2=Puzzanghera |first2=Jim |last3=Finucane |first3=Martin |last4=Datar |first4=Saurabh |last5=Uraizee |first5=Irfan |last6=Garvin |first6=Patrick |title=What the Mueller report says about Trump and more |url=https://apps.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/graphics/2019/03/mueller-report/ |date=April 18, 2019 |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-date=April 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419073427/https://apps.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/graphics/2019/03/mueller-report/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TIMErelease">{{cite magazine |last=Law |first=Tara |title=Here Are the Biggest Takeaways From the Mueller Report |url=https://time.com/5567077/mueller-report-release/ |date=April 18, 2019 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422043335/http://time.com/5567077/mueller-report-release/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On the question of obstruction of justice, Barr stated that Mueller did not reach a conclusion; he quotes the special counsel as saying "while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/24/attorney-general-william-barr-to-release-mueller-russia-probe-findings.html |title=Attorney General Barr to release Mueller Russia probe report findings |first1=Jacob |last1=Pramuk |first2=Spencer |last2=Kimball |date=March 24, 2019 |work=[[CNBC]] |access-date=March 24, 2019 |archive-date=March 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324192056/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/24/attorney-general-william-barr-to-release-mueller-russia-probe-findings.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto"/> Barr wrote, "The special counsel's decision to describe the facts of his obstruction investigation without reaching any legal conclusions leaves it to the attorney general to determine whether the conduct described in the report constitutes a crime," adding that he and Rosenstein "concluded that the evidence developed during the special counsel's investigation is not sufficient to establish that the president committed an obstruction-of-justice offense."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/24/us/politics/mueller-trump-obstruction-of-justice.html |title=Barr Goes Beyond Mueller in Clearing Trump on Obstruction, Drawing Scrutiny |first1=Michael S. |last1=Schmidt |author1-link=Michael S. Schmidt |first2=Charlie |last2=Savage |author2-link=Charlie Savage (author) |date=March 24, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104051345/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/24/us/politics/mueller-trump-obstruction-of-justice.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-24/mueller-leaves-obstruction-question-to-barr-who-clears-trump |title=Mueller Leaves Obstruction Question to Barr, Who Clears Trump |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=March 24, 2019 |first=Greg |last=Farrell |access-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112012913/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-24/mueller-leaves-obstruction-question-to-barr-who-clears-trump |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== House Oversight Committee investigation and subpoenas ===
In April 2019, the [[House Oversight Committee]] issued [[subpoena]]s seeking financial details from Trump's banks, Deutsche Bank and [[Capital One]], and his accounting firm, [[Mazars USA]]. In response, Trump sued the banks, Mazars, and committee chair [[Elijah Cummings]] to prevent the disclosures.<ref name="sues deutsche" /><ref name="bid to block" /> In May, [[United States District Court for the District of Columbia|DC District Court]] judge [[Amit Mehta]] ruled that Mazars must comply with the subpoena,<ref name="must turn over">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/us/politics/trump-financial-records.html |title=Accountants Must Turn Over Trump's Financial Records, Lower-Court Judge Rules |first=Charlie |last=Savage |author-link=Charlie Savage (author) |date=May 20, 2019 |access-date=September 30, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207025438/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/us/politics/trump-financial-records.html|url-status=live }}</ref> and judge [[Edgardo Ramos]] of the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York|Southern District Court of New York]] ruled that the banks must also comply.<ref name="must comply" /><ref name="can release" /> Trump's attorneys appealed the rulings,<ref name="hutzler" /> arguing that Congress was attempting to usurp the "exercise of law-enforcement authority that the Constitution reserves to the executive branch".<ref>{{cite news|website=[[Lawfare (website)|Lawfare]]|date=June 10, 2019|first=Mikhaila|last=Fogel|title=Trump Legal Team Files Brief in Mazars Appeal|access-date=June 12, 2019|url=https://www.lawfaremedia.org/trump-legal-team-files-brief-mazars-appeal|archive-date=August 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823084514/https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/trump-legal-team-files-brief-mazars-appeal|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=May 28, 2019|first=Renae|last=Merle|title=House subpoenas for Trump's bank records put on hold while President appeals |access-date=May 28, 2019|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/05/29/house-subpoenas-trumps-bank-records-put-hold-while-president-appeals/}}</ref> The documents were surrendered in September 2022, after Trump agreed to discontinue his appeal.<ref>{{Cite news |access-date=March 9, 2023 |url=https://www.axios.com/2022/09/01/house-oversight-committee-trump-financial-documents |title=House Oversight reaches deal with Trump to obtain "key financial documents" |first=Jacob |last=Knutson |date=September 1, 2022 |website=Axios }}</ref>
=== Inaugural committee ===