Philippa Kaur

The Conversation U.S. has commissioned more than four dozen articles relating to the various criminal investigations into the activities of former president Donald Trump before he took office, while he was in the White House in office, and since he left office.

There are four criminal cases that have been made public. It can be hard to keep track of all the different developments in each and what they mean for the country and for democracy.

To help you make sense of it all, here is a list of articles about each of those cases. We have also included articles on related topics, such as the potential prosecution of a former president, the importance of the rule of law to American democracy and some basics of how criminal cases are developed and prosecuted.

Donald Trump appears in court in New York City in a courtroom sketch by Jane Rosenberg.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Prosecuting an ex-president

Trump is facing various criminal charges – here’s what we can learn from legal cases against Nixon and Clinton – Jan. 12, 2023.
As charges loom over Trump, prosecutors come under fire – a criminal justice expert explains what’s at stake – Feb. 1, 2023.
Trump’s unprecedented call for protests is the latest sign of his aim to degrade America’s institutions – March 20, 2023.
Prosecuting a president is divisive and sometimes destabilizing – here’s why many countries do it anyway – March 31, 2023.
How the indictment of Donald Trump is a ‘strange and different’ event for America, according to political scientists – April 4, 2023.
Donald Trump and the dying art of the courtroom sketch – April 18, 2023.
The presidential campaign of Convict 9653 – April 18, 2023.
Trump’s political action committee wants a $60 million refund on paying his legal fees – 3 key things to know about PACs – Aug. 4, 2023.
Donald Trump’s right − he is getting special treatment, far better than most other criminal defendants – Aug. 9, 2023.
Hitler, Burr and Trump: Show trials put the record straight for history but can also provide a powerful platform for the defendant – Aug. 11, 2023.
Trump’s free speech faces court-ordered limits, like any other defendant’s – 2 law professors explain why, and how Trump’s lawyers need to watch themselves too – Aug. 11, 2023.
Trump’s mug shot is now a means of entertainment and fundraising − but it will go down in history as an important cultural artifact – Sept. 1, 2023.
Do unbiased jurors exist to serve at Trump’s trials in the age of social media? – Sept. 7, 2023.

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Do federal or state prosecutors get to go first in trying Trump? A law professor untangles the conflict – June 8, 2023.
Even after an indictment on federal charges, ‘persecuted’ Donald Trump could win again – June 8, 2023.
Trump indictments won’t keep him from presidential race, but will make his reelection bid much harder – June 9, 2023.
Prosecuting a former president is not an easy decision. A criminal law professor explains why – June 13, 2023.
A jury of ex-presidents? No, but Trump’s fate will be decided by 12 citizen peers, in a hallowed tradition of US democracy – June 15, 2023.
Georgia indictment and post-Civil War history make it clear: Trump’s actions have already disqualified him from the presidency – Aug. 18, 2023.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits with his attorneys for his arraignment at the Manhattan criminal court on April 4, 2023, in New York City.
Pool/ Getty Images News via Getty Images North America

New York state’s charges of business records falsification

Former President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court on April 4, 2023.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images

The federal indictment against Donald Trump includes photos such as this one, allegedly of boxes of documents, including classified material, stored in unsecured spaces at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and home.
U.S. Department of Justice

Department of Justice charges for hoarding classified documents

Former President Donald Trump on his airplane on June 10, 2023, two days after his federal indictment.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

‘If you want to die in jail, keep talking’ – two national security law experts discuss the special treatment for Trump and offer him some advice – June 12, 2023.
How the exposure of highly classified documents could harm US security – and why there are laws against storing them insecurely – June 14, 2023.
Despite threats of violence, Trump’s federal indictment happened with little fanfare – but that doesn’t mean the far-right movement is fading, an extremism scholar explains – June 15, 2023.
Trump’s trial will soon be underway in Florida – here’s why prosecutors had little choice in selecting any other courthouse location – June 21, 2023.
Why Trump’s prosecution for keeping secret documents is lawful, constitutional, precedented, nonpartisan and merited – July 14, 2023.
Despite calls for her to recuse herself from Trump’s criminal case, Judge Aileen Cannon’s situation doesn’t meet the standard for when a judge should step away – July 25, 2023.
Trump faces additional charges – 4 essential reads to understand the case against him for hoarding classified documents – July 27, 2023.
https://theconversation.com/trumps-classified-documents-indictment-does-more-than-allege-crimes-it-tells-a-compelling-story-211713 – Aug. 23, 2023.

A visual of President Donald Trump is shown during the July 12, 2022, congressional hearings investigating the attack on the Capitol.
Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Department of Justice charges in effort to overturn the 2020 election results

Donald Trump gestures as he arrives to make a speech on Jan. 6, 2021.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

The most serious Trump indictment yet – a criminal law scholar explains the charges of using ‘dishonesty, fraud and deceit’ to cling to power – Aug. 1, 2023.
George Washington knew when it was time to go, unlike Trump, because the founders worried about the judgment of history – Aug. 2, 2023.
Immunity for witnesses is a key tool of prosecutors, whether they’re charging Trump or other alleged criminals – here’s how it works and what the limits are – Aug. 2, 2023.
Could Trump turn his politics of grievance into a get-out-of-jail card? Neither prosecution nor even jail time have prevented former leaders in Israel, Brazil and Kenya from mounting comebacks – Aug. 2, 2023.
Trump indictment: Here’s how prosecutors will try to prove he knowingly lied and intended to break the law – Aug. 3, 2023.
Trump may try to delay his first federal trial – it’s a common legal strategy to fend off a criminal conviction – Aug. 3, 2023.
A brief history of the Ku Klux Klan Acts: 1870s laws to protect Black voters, ignored for decades, now being used against Trump – Aug. 4, 2023.

Georgia charges about 2020 election interference More

The Conversation U.S. has commissioned more than four dozen articles relating to the various criminal investigations into the activities of former president Donald Trump before he took office, while he was in the White House in office, and since he left office.

There are four criminal cases that have been made public. It can be hard to keep track of all the different developments in each and what they mean for the country and for democracy.

To help you make sense of it all, here is a list of articles about each of those cases. We have also included articles on related topics, such as the potential prosecution of a former president, the importance of the rule of law to American democracy and some basics of how criminal cases are developed and prosecuted.

Donald Trump appears in court in New York City in a courtroom sketch by Jane Rosenberg.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Prosecuting an ex-president

Trump is facing various criminal charges – here’s what we can learn from legal cases against Nixon and Clinton – Jan. 12, 2023.
As charges loom over Trump, prosecutors come under fire – a criminal justice expert explains what’s at stake – Feb. 1, 2023.
Trump’s unprecedented call for protests is the latest sign of his aim to degrade America’s institutions – March 20, 2023.
Prosecuting a president is divisive and sometimes destabilizing – here’s why many countries do it anyway – March 31, 2023.
How the indictment of Donald Trump is a ‘strange and different’ event for America, according to political scientists – April 4, 2023.
Donald Trump and the dying art of the courtroom sketch – April 18, 2023.
The presidential campaign of Convict 9653 – April 18, 2023.
Trump’s political action committee wants a $60 million refund on paying his legal fees – 3 key things to know about PACs – Aug. 4, 2023.
Donald Trump’s right − he is getting special treatment, far better than most other criminal defendants – Aug. 9, 2023.
Hitler, Burr and Trump: Show trials put the record straight for history but can also provide a powerful platform for the defendant – Aug. 11, 2023.
Trump’s free speech faces court-ordered limits, like any other defendant’s – 2 law professors explain why, and how Trump’s lawyers need to watch themselves too – Aug. 11, 2023.

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits with his attorneys for his arraignment at the Manhattan criminal court on April 4, 2023, in New York City.
Pool/ Getty Images News via Getty Images North America

New York state’s charges of business records falsification

Former President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court on April 4, 2023.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images

The federal indictment against Donald Trump includes photos such as this one, allegedly of boxes of documents, including classified material, stored in unsecured spaces at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and home.
U.S. Department of Justice

Department of Justice charges for hoarding classified documents

Former President Donald Trump on his airplane on June 10, 2023, two days after his federal indictment.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

‘If you want to die in jail, keep talking’ – two national security law experts discuss the special treatment for Trump and offer him some advice – June 12, 2023.
How the exposure of highly classified documents could harm US security – and why there are laws against storing them insecurely – June 14, 2023.
Despite threats of violence, Trump’s federal indictment happened with little fanfare – but that doesn’t mean the far-right movement is fading, an extremism scholar explains – June 15, 2023.
Trump’s trial will soon be underway in Florida – here’s why prosecutors had little choice in selecting any other courthouse location – June 21, 2023.
Why Trump’s prosecution for keeping secret documents is lawful, constitutional, precedented, nonpartisan and merited – July 14, 2023.
Despite calls for her to recuse herself from Trump’s criminal case, Judge Aileen Cannon’s situation doesn’t meet the standard for when a judge should step away – July 25, 2023.
Trump faces additional charges – 4 essential reads to understand the case against him for hoarding classified documents – July 27, 2023.

A visual of President Donald Trump is shown during the July 12, 2022, congressional hearings investigating the attack on the Capitol.
Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Department of Justice charges in effort to overturn the 2020 election results

Donald Trump gestures as he arrives to make a speech on Jan. 6, 2021.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

The most serious Trump indictment yet – a criminal law scholar explains the charges of using ‘dishonesty, fraud and deceit’ to cling to power – Aug. 1, 2023.
George Washington knew when it was time to go, unlike Trump, because the founders worried about the judgment of history – Aug. 2, 2023.
Immunity for witnesses is a key tool of prosecutors, whether they’re charging Trump or other alleged criminals – here’s how it works and what the limits are – Aug. 2, 2023.
Could Trump turn his politics of grievance into a get-out-of-jail card? Neither prosecution nor even jail time have prevented former leaders in Israel, Brazil and Kenya from mounting comebacks – Aug. 2, 2023.
Trump indictment: Here’s how prosecutors will try to prove he knowingly lied and intended to break the law – Aug. 3, 2023.
Trump may try to delay his first federal trial – it’s a common legal strategy to fend off a criminal conviction – Aug. 3, 2023.
A brief history of the Ku Klux Klan Acts: 1870s laws to protect Black voters, ignored for decades, now being used against Trump – Aug. 4, 2023.

Georgia charges about 2020 election interference More

The Conversation U.S. has commissioned more than four dozen articles relating to the various criminal investigations into the activities of former president Donald Trump before he took office, while he was in the White House in office, and since he left office.

There are four criminal cases that have been made public. It can be hard to keep track of all the different developments in each and what they mean for the country and for democracy.

To help you make sense of it all, here is a list of articles about each of those cases. We have also included articles on related topics, such as the potential prosecution of a former president, the importance of the rule of law to American democracy and some basics of how criminal cases are developed and prosecuted.

Donald Trump appears in court in New York City in a courtroom sketch by Jane Rosenberg.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Prosecuting an ex-president

Trump is facing various criminal charges – here’s what we can learn from legal cases against Nixon and Clinton – Jan. 12, 2023.
As charges loom over Trump, prosecutors come under fire – a criminal justice expert explains what’s at stake – Feb. 1, 2023.
Trump’s unprecedented call for protests is the latest sign of his aim to degrade America’s institutions – March 20, 2023.
Prosecuting a president is divisive and sometimes destabilizing – here’s why many countries do it anyway – March 31, 2023.
How the indictment of Donald Trump is a ‘strange and different’ event for America, according to political scientists – April 4, 2023.
Donald Trump and the dying art of the courtroom sketch – April 18, 2023.
The presidential campaign of Convict 9653 – April 18, 2023.
Trump’s political action committee wants a $60 million refund on paying his legal fees – 3 key things to know about PACs – Aug. 4, 2023.
Donald Trump’s right − he is getting special treatment, far better than most other criminal defendants – Aug. 9, 2023.
Hitler, Burr and Trump: Show trials put the record straight for history but can also provide a powerful platform for the defendant – Aug. 11, 2023.
Trump’s free speech faces court-ordered limits, like any other defendant’s – 2 law professors explain why, and how Trump’s lawyers need to watch themselves too – Aug. 11, 2023.

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Do federal or state prosecutors get to go first in trying Trump? A law professor untangles the conflict – June 8, 2023.
Even after an indictment on federal charges, ‘persecuted’ Donald Trump could win again – June 8, 2023.
Trump indictments won’t keep him from presidential race, but will make his reelection bid much harder – June 9, 2023.
Prosecuting a former president is not an easy decision. A criminal law professor explains why – June 13, 2023.
A jury of ex-presidents? No, but Trump’s fate will be decided by 12 citizen peers, in a hallowed tradition of US democracy – June 15, 2023.
Georgia indictment and post-Civil War history make it clear: Trump’s actions have already disqualified him from the presidency – Aug. 18, 2023.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits with his attorneys for his arraignment at the Manhattan criminal court on April 4, 2023, in New York City.
Pool/ Getty Images News via Getty Images North America

New York state’s charges of business records falsification

Former President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court on April 4, 2023.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images

The federal indictment against Donald Trump includes photos such as this one, allegedly of boxes of documents, including classified material, stored in unsecured spaces at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and home.
U.S. Department of Justice

Department of Justice charges for hoarding classified documents

Former President Donald Trump on his airplane on June 10, 2023, two days after his federal indictment.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

‘If you want to die in jail, keep talking’ – two national security law experts discuss the special treatment for Trump and offer him some advice – June 12, 2023.
How the exposure of highly classified documents could harm US security – and why there are laws against storing them insecurely – June 14, 2023.
Despite threats of violence, Trump’s federal indictment happened with little fanfare – but that doesn’t mean the far-right movement is fading, an extremism scholar explains – June 15, 2023.
Trump’s trial will soon be underway in Florida – here’s why prosecutors had little choice in selecting any other courthouse location – June 21, 2023.
Why Trump’s prosecution for keeping secret documents is lawful, constitutional, precedented, nonpartisan and merited – July 14, 2023.
Despite calls for her to recuse herself from Trump’s criminal case, Judge Aileen Cannon’s situation doesn’t meet the standard for when a judge should step away – July 25, 2023.
Trump faces additional charges – 4 essential reads to understand the case against him for hoarding classified documents – July 27, 2023.
https://theconversation.com/trumps-classified-documents-indictment-does-more-than-allege-crimes-it-tells-a-compelling-story-211713 – Aug. 23, 2023.

A visual of President Donald Trump is shown during the July 12, 2022, congressional hearings investigating the attack on the Capitol.
Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Department of Justice charges in effort to overturn the 2020 election results

Donald Trump gestures as he arrives to make a speech on Jan. 6, 2021.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

The most serious Trump indictment yet – a criminal law scholar explains the charges of using ‘dishonesty, fraud and deceit’ to cling to power – Aug. 1, 2023.
George Washington knew when it was time to go, unlike Trump, because the founders worried about the judgment of history – Aug. 2, 2023.
Immunity for witnesses is a key tool of prosecutors, whether they’re charging Trump or other alleged criminals – here’s how it works and what the limits are – Aug. 2, 2023.
Could Trump turn his politics of grievance into a get-out-of-jail card? Neither prosecution nor even jail time have prevented former leaders in Israel, Brazil and Kenya from mounting comebacks – Aug. 2, 2023.
Trump indictment: Here’s how prosecutors will try to prove he knowingly lied and intended to break the law – Aug. 3, 2023.
Trump may try to delay his first federal trial – it’s a common legal strategy to fend off a criminal conviction – Aug. 3, 2023.
A brief history of the Ku Klux Klan Acts: 1870s laws to protect Black voters, ignored for decades, now being used against Trump – Aug. 4, 2023.

Georgia charges about 2020 election interference More

The Conversation U.S. has commissioned more than three dozen articles relating to the various criminal investigations into the activities of former president Donald Trump before he took office, while he was in the White House in office, and since he left office.

There are four criminal cases that have been made public. It can be hard to keep track of all the different developments in each and what they mean for the country and for democracy.

To help you make sense of it all, here is a list of articles about each of those cases. We have also included articles on related topics, such as the potential prosecution of a former president, the importance of the rule of law to American democracy and some basics of how criminal cases are developed and prosecuted.

Donald Trump appears in court in New York City in a courtroom sketch by Jane Rosenberg.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Prosecuting an ex-president

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits with his attorneys for his arraignment at the Manhattan criminal court on April 4, 2023, in New York City.
Pool/ Getty Images News via Getty Images North America

New York state’s charges of business records falsification

Former President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court on April 4, 2023.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images

The federal indictment against Donald Trump includes photos such as this one, allegedly of boxes of documents, including classified material, stored in unsecured spaces at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and home.
U.S. Department of Justice

Department of Justice charges for hoarding classified documents

Former President Donald Trump on his airplane on June 10, 2023, two days after his federal indictment.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

‘If you want to die in jail, keep talking’ – two national security law experts discuss the special treatment for Trump and offer him some advice – June 12, 2023.
How the exposure of highly classified documents could harm US security – and why there are laws against storing them insecurely – June 14, 2023.
Despite threats of violence, Trump’s federal indictment happened with little fanfare – but that doesn’t mean the far-right movement is fading, an extremism scholar explains – June 15, 2023.
Trump’s trial will soon be underway in Florida – here’s why prosecutors had little choice in selecting any other courthouse location – June 21, 2023.
Why Trump’s prosecution for keeping secret documents is lawful, constitutional, precedented, nonpartisan and merited – July 14, 2023.
Despite calls for her to recuse herself from Trump’s criminal case, Judge Aileen Cannon’s situation doesn’t meet the standard for when a judge should step away – July 25, 2023.
Trump faces additional charges – 4 essential reads to understand the case against him for hoarding classified documents – July 27, 2023.

A visual of President Donald Trump is shown during the July 12, 2022, congressional hearings investigating the attack on the Capitol.
Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Department of Justice investigating Jan. 6 Capitol attacks

Donald Trump gestures as he arrives to make a speech on Jan. 6, 2021.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

The most serious Trump indictment yet – a criminal law scholar explains the charges of using ‘dishonesty, fraud and deceit’ to cling to power – Aug. 1, 2023.
George Washington knew when it was time to go, unlike Trump, because the founders worried about the judgment of history – Aug. 2, 2023.
Immunity for witnesses is a key tool of prosecutors, whether they’re charging Trump or other alleged criminals – here’s how it works and what the limits are – Aug. 2, 2023.
Could Trump turn his politics of grievance into a get-out-of-jail card? Neither prosecution nor even jail time have prevented former leaders in Israel, Brazil and Kenya from mounting comebacks – Aug. 2, 2023.
Trump indictment: Here’s how prosecutors will try to prove he knowingly lied and intended to break the law – Aug. 3, 2023.
Trump may try to delay his first federal trial – it’s a common legal strategy to fend off a criminal conviction – Aug. 3, 2023.

George state investigation into 2020 election interference More

The Conversation U.S. has commissioned more than three dozen articles relating to the various criminal investigations into the activities of former president Donald Trump before he took office, while he was in the White House in office, and since he left office.

There are four criminal cases that have been made public. It can be hard to keep track of all the different developments in each and what they mean for the country and for democracy.

To help you make sense of it all, here is a list of articles about each of those cases. We have also included articles on related topics, such as the potential prosecution of a former president, the importance of the rule of law to American democracy and some basics of how criminal cases are developed and prosecuted.

Donald Trump appears in court in New York City in a courtroom sketch by Jane Rosenberg.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Prosecuting an ex-president

Trump is facing various criminal charges – here’s what we can learn from legal cases against Nixon and Clinton – Jan. 12, 2023.
As charges loom over Trump, prosecutors come under fire – a criminal justice expert explains what’s at stake – Feb. 1, 2023.
Trump’s unprecedented call for protests is the latest sign of his aim to degrade America’s institutions – March 20, 2023.
Prosecuting a president is divisive and sometimes destabilizing – here’s why many countries do it anyway – March 31, 2023.
How the indictment of Donald Trump is a ‘strange and different’ event for America, according to political scientists – April 4, 2023.
Donald Trump and the dying art of the courtroom sketch – April 18, 2023.
The presidential campaign of Convict 9653 – April 18, 2023.
Trump’s political action committee wants a $60 million refund on paying his legal fees – 3 key things to know about PACs – Aug. 4, 2023.
Donald Trump’s right − he is getting special treatment, far better than most other criminal defendants – Aug. 9, 2023.
Hitler, Burr and Trump: Show trials put the record straight for history but can also provide a powerful platform for the defendant – Aug. 11, 2023.

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits with his attorneys for his arraignment at the Manhattan criminal court on April 4, 2023, in New York City.
Pool/ Getty Images News via Getty Images North America

New York state’s charges of business records falsification

Former President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court on April 4, 2023.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images

The federal indictment against Donald Trump includes photos such as this one, allegedly of boxes of documents, including classified material, stored in unsecured spaces at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and home.
U.S. Department of Justice

Department of Justice charges for hoarding classified documents

Former President Donald Trump on his airplane on June 10, 2023, two days after his federal indictment.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

‘If you want to die in jail, keep talking’ – two national security law experts discuss the special treatment for Trump and offer him some advice – June 12, 2023.
How the exposure of highly classified documents could harm US security – and why there are laws against storing them insecurely – June 14, 2023.
Despite threats of violence, Trump’s federal indictment happened with little fanfare – but that doesn’t mean the far-right movement is fading, an extremism scholar explains – June 15, 2023.
Trump’s trial will soon be underway in Florida – here’s why prosecutors had little choice in selecting any other courthouse location – June 21, 2023.
Why Trump’s prosecution for keeping secret documents is lawful, constitutional, precedented, nonpartisan and merited – July 14, 2023.
Despite calls for her to recuse herself from Trump’s criminal case, Judge Aileen Cannon’s situation doesn’t meet the standard for when a judge should step away – July 25, 2023.
Trump faces additional charges – 4 essential reads to understand the case against him for hoarding classified documents – July 27, 2023.

A visual of President Donald Trump is shown during the July 12, 2022, congressional hearings investigating the attack on the Capitol.
Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Department of Justice investigating Jan. 6 Capitol attacks

Donald Trump gestures as he arrives to make a speech on Jan. 6, 2021.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

The most serious Trump indictment yet – a criminal law scholar explains the charges of using ‘dishonesty, fraud and deceit’ to cling to power – Aug. 1, 2023.
George Washington knew when it was time to go, unlike Trump, because the founders worried about the judgment of history – Aug. 2, 2023.
Immunity for witnesses is a key tool of prosecutors, whether they’re charging Trump or other alleged criminals – here’s how it works and what the limits are – Aug. 2, 2023.
Could Trump turn his politics of grievance into a get-out-of-jail card? Neither prosecution nor even jail time have prevented former leaders in Israel, Brazil and Kenya from mounting comebacks – Aug. 2, 2023.
Trump indictment: Here’s how prosecutors will try to prove he knowingly lied and intended to break the law – Aug. 3, 2023.
Trump may try to delay his first federal trial – it’s a common legal strategy to fend off a criminal conviction – Aug. 3, 2023.
A brief history of the Ku Klux Klan Acts: 1870s laws to protect Black voters, ignored for decades, now being used against Trump – Aug. 4, 2023.

George state investigation into 2020 election interference More

The Conversation U.S. has commissioned more than four dozen articles relating to the various criminal investigations into the activities of former president Donald Trump before he took office, while he was in the White House in office, and since he left office.

There are four criminal cases that have been made public. It can be hard to keep track of all the different developments in each and what they mean for the country and for democracy.

To help you make sense of it all, here is a list of articles about each of those cases. We have also included articles on related topics, such as the potential prosecution of a former president, the importance of the rule of law to American democracy and some basics of how criminal cases are developed and prosecuted.

Donald Trump appears in court in New York City in a courtroom sketch by Jane Rosenberg.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Prosecuting an ex-president

Trump is facing various criminal charges – here’s what we can learn from legal cases against Nixon and Clinton – Jan. 12, 2023.
As charges loom over Trump, prosecutors come under fire – a criminal justice expert explains what’s at stake – Feb. 1, 2023.
Trump’s unprecedented call for protests is the latest sign of his aim to degrade America’s institutions – March 20, 2023.
Prosecuting a president is divisive and sometimes destabilizing – here’s why many countries do it anyway – March 31, 2023.
How the indictment of Donald Trump is a ‘strange and different’ event for America, according to political scientists – April 4, 2023.
Donald Trump and the dying art of the courtroom sketch – April 18, 2023.
The presidential campaign of Convict 9653 – April 18, 2023.
Trump’s political action committee wants a $60 million refund on paying his legal fees – 3 key things to know about PACs – Aug. 4, 2023.
Donald Trump’s right − he is getting special treatment, far better than most other criminal defendants – Aug. 9, 2023.
Hitler, Burr and Trump: Show trials put the record straight for history but can also provide a powerful platform for the defendant – Aug. 11, 2023.
Trump’s free speech faces court-ordered limits, like any other defendant’s – 2 law professors explain why, and how Trump’s lawyers need to watch themselves too – Aug. 11, 2023.

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits with his attorneys for his arraignment at the Manhattan criminal court on April 4, 2023, in New York City.
Pool/ Getty Images News via Getty Images North America

New York state’s charges of business records falsification

Former President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court on April 4, 2023.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images

The federal indictment against Donald Trump includes photos such as this one, allegedly of boxes of documents, including classified material, stored in unsecured spaces at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and home.
U.S. Department of Justice

Department of Justice charges for hoarding classified documents

Former President Donald Trump on his airplane on June 10, 2023, two days after his federal indictment.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

‘If you want to die in jail, keep talking’ – two national security law experts discuss the special treatment for Trump and offer him some advice – June 12, 2023.
How the exposure of highly classified documents could harm US security – and why there are laws against storing them insecurely – June 14, 2023.
Despite threats of violence, Trump’s federal indictment happened with little fanfare – but that doesn’t mean the far-right movement is fading, an extremism scholar explains – June 15, 2023.
Trump’s trial will soon be underway in Florida – here’s why prosecutors had little choice in selecting any other courthouse location – June 21, 2023.
Why Trump’s prosecution for keeping secret documents is lawful, constitutional, precedented, nonpartisan and merited – July 14, 2023.
Despite calls for her to recuse herself from Trump’s criminal case, Judge Aileen Cannon’s situation doesn’t meet the standard for when a judge should step away – July 25, 2023.
Trump faces additional charges – 4 essential reads to understand the case against him for hoarding classified documents – July 27, 2023.

A visual of President Donald Trump is shown during the July 12, 2022, congressional hearings investigating the attack on the Capitol.
Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Department of Justice investigating Jan. 6 Capitol attacks

Donald Trump gestures as he arrives to make a speech on Jan. 6, 2021.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

The most serious Trump indictment yet – a criminal law scholar explains the charges of using ‘dishonesty, fraud and deceit’ to cling to power – Aug. 1, 2023.
George Washington knew when it was time to go, unlike Trump, because the founders worried about the judgment of history – Aug. 2, 2023.
Immunity for witnesses is a key tool of prosecutors, whether they’re charging Trump or other alleged criminals – here’s how it works and what the limits are – Aug. 2, 2023.
Could Trump turn his politics of grievance into a get-out-of-jail card? Neither prosecution nor even jail time have prevented former leaders in Israel, Brazil and Kenya from mounting comebacks – Aug. 2, 2023.
Trump indictment: Here’s how prosecutors will try to prove he knowingly lied and intended to break the law – Aug. 3, 2023.
Trump may try to delay his first federal trial – it’s a common legal strategy to fend off a criminal conviction – Aug. 3, 2023.
A brief history of the Ku Klux Klan Acts: 1870s laws to protect Black voters, ignored for decades, now being used against Trump – Aug. 4, 2023.

George state investigation into 2020 election interference More

The Conversation U.S. has commissioned more than four dozen articles relating to the various criminal investigations into the activities of former president Donald Trump before he took office, while he was in the White House in office, and since he left office.

There are four criminal cases that have been made public. It can be hard to keep track of all the different developments in each and what they mean for the country and for democracy.

To help you make sense of it all, here is a list of articles about each of those cases. We have also included articles on related topics, such as the potential prosecution of a former president, the importance of the rule of law to American democracy and some basics of how criminal cases are developed and prosecuted.

Donald Trump appears in court in New York City in a courtroom sketch by Jane Rosenberg.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Prosecuting an ex-president

Trump is facing various criminal charges – here’s what we can learn from legal cases against Nixon and Clinton – Jan. 12, 2023.
As charges loom over Trump, prosecutors come under fire – a criminal justice expert explains what’s at stake – Feb. 1, 2023.
Trump’s unprecedented call for protests is the latest sign of his aim to degrade America’s institutions – March 20, 2023.
Prosecuting a president is divisive and sometimes destabilizing – here’s why many countries do it anyway – March 31, 2023.
How the indictment of Donald Trump is a ‘strange and different’ event for America, according to political scientists – April 4, 2023.
Donald Trump and the dying art of the courtroom sketch – April 18, 2023.
The presidential campaign of Convict 9653 – April 18, 2023.
Trump’s political action committee wants a $60 million refund on paying his legal fees – 3 key things to know about PACs – Aug. 4, 2023.
Donald Trump’s right − he is getting special treatment, far better than most other criminal defendants – Aug. 9, 2023.
Hitler, Burr and Trump: Show trials put the record straight for history but can also provide a powerful platform for the defendant – Aug. 11, 2023.
Trump’s free speech faces court-ordered limits, like any other defendant’s – 2 law professors explain why, and how Trump’s lawyers need to watch themselves too – Aug. 11, 2023.

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits with his attorneys for his arraignment at the Manhattan criminal court on April 4, 2023, in New York City.
Pool/ Getty Images News via Getty Images North America

New York state’s charges of business records falsification

Former President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court on April 4, 2023.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images

The federal indictment against Donald Trump includes photos such as this one, allegedly of boxes of documents, including classified material, stored in unsecured spaces at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and home.
U.S. Department of Justice

Department of Justice charges for hoarding classified documents

Former President Donald Trump on his airplane on June 10, 2023, two days after his federal indictment.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

‘If you want to die in jail, keep talking’ – two national security law experts discuss the special treatment for Trump and offer him some advice – June 12, 2023.
How the exposure of highly classified documents could harm US security – and why there are laws against storing them insecurely – June 14, 2023.
Despite threats of violence, Trump’s federal indictment happened with little fanfare – but that doesn’t mean the far-right movement is fading, an extremism scholar explains – June 15, 2023.
Trump’s trial will soon be underway in Florida – here’s why prosecutors had little choice in selecting any other courthouse location – June 21, 2023.
Why Trump’s prosecution for keeping secret documents is lawful, constitutional, precedented, nonpartisan and merited – July 14, 2023.
Despite calls for her to recuse herself from Trump’s criminal case, Judge Aileen Cannon’s situation doesn’t meet the standard for when a judge should step away – July 25, 2023.
Trump faces additional charges – 4 essential reads to understand the case against him for hoarding classified documents – July 27, 2023.

A visual of President Donald Trump is shown during the July 12, 2022, congressional hearings investigating the attack on the Capitol.
Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Department of Justice charges in effort to overturn the 2020 election results

Donald Trump gestures as he arrives to make a speech on Jan. 6, 2021.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

The most serious Trump indictment yet – a criminal law scholar explains the charges of using ‘dishonesty, fraud and deceit’ to cling to power – Aug. 1, 2023.
George Washington knew when it was time to go, unlike Trump, because the founders worried about the judgment of history – Aug. 2, 2023.
Immunity for witnesses is a key tool of prosecutors, whether they’re charging Trump or other alleged criminals – here’s how it works and what the limits are – Aug. 2, 2023.
Could Trump turn his politics of grievance into a get-out-of-jail card? Neither prosecution nor even jail time have prevented former leaders in Israel, Brazil and Kenya from mounting comebacks – Aug. 2, 2023.
Trump indictment: Here’s how prosecutors will try to prove he knowingly lied and intended to break the law – Aug. 3, 2023.
Trump may try to delay his first federal trial – it’s a common legal strategy to fend off a criminal conviction – Aug. 3, 2023.
A brief history of the Ku Klux Klan Acts: 1870s laws to protect Black voters, ignored for decades, now being used against Trump – Aug. 4, 2023.

Georgia charges about 2020 election interference More

Democrats in Congress are making a new push to get the long-dormant proposed Equal Rights Amendment enshrined into law. As legislation, it would guarantee sex equality in the Constitution and could serve as a potential legal antidote to the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which removed the federal right to an abortion.

“In light of Dobbs, we’re seeing vast discrimination across the country,” said U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York in an interview July 13, 2023. “Women are being treated as second-class citizens. This is more timely than ever.”

Gillibrand, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri and other Democratic lawmakers are arguing that the Equal Rights Amendment, often referred to as the ERA, has already been ratified by the states and is enforceable as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution.

Efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution to recognize women’s rights have faced major challenges for the past century. Most recently, in April 2023 Senate Republicans blocked a similar resolution that would let states ratify the amendment, despite an expired deadline.

I’m a scholar who studies gender and politics. Here’s a quick summary of how the country got to this point and the barriers that still exist to adding the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.

Members of the National Organization for Women demonstrate outside the White House in 1969 for the Equal Rights Amendment.
Bettmann/Contributor

‘Ladies against women’

Women’s rights advocates argue that sex discrimination is a pervasive problem that could be resolved by the ERA. Even though the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment prohibits states from denying any person equal protection under the law, women’s rights are not explicitly guaranteed.

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which took away a woman’s right to an abortion, women’s rights advocates argue that the ERA is critical in the post-Dobbs world. The amendment could help protect women’s access to reproductive health services, including abortion and contraception.

Proponents also believe that the ERA can be used to push back against legislation that threatens the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

The push for equal rights first heated up in the 1920s after women gained the right to vote.

Alice Paul, a suffragist, proposed the first version of an Equal Rights Amendment in 1923. The language of the legislation, which is very similar to the amendment Democrats are currently championing, guaranteed equal rights under the law, regardless of a person’s sex.

The proposal was adopted and turned into proposed legislation by two Kansas Republicans, Sen. Charles Curtis and Rep. Daniel Anthony Jr., and was brought up during every congressional session between 1923 and 1971 without success.

The idea of an Equal Rights Amendment, however, gained momentum among politicians and the broader public. World War II opened many doors for women, who filled gaps in the labor force while men were off fighting. During this time, women were welcomed into politics, onto juries, openly wooed by educational institutions and encouraged to take up male-dominated majors such as math, science and technology.

The fledgling feminist group, the National Organization for Women, adopted the passage of the ERA in its 1967 Bill of Rights for Women and began staging massive demonstrations and lobbying politicians in the late 1960s and early 1970s in an effort to get Congress to pass the amendment.

Finally, in 1972, the ERA passed both houses of Congress. The amendment had seven years to be ratified by three-fourths, or 38, of the 50 states.

While 30 states ratified the ERA in 1972 and 1973, the amendment ultimately came up three states short of approval by the 1979 deadline.

This was in large part due to the efforts of conservative women’s organizations opposed it. Conservative women said that the ERA was a threat to family and child-rearing, because it would disrupt traditional gender roles. They also believed women would lose, among other things, their exemptions from the draft and combat duty.

At the same time, for a number of reasons, Nebraska, Tennessee, Idaho, South Dakota and Kentucky rescinded their ERA ratifications between 1972 and 1982. Some state legislators argued that the amendment was too controversial given its potential to upend traditional gender roles and legalize what they called “abortion on demand.”

States such as Illinois and Florida became battlegrounds for liberal and conservative women fighting over the amendment. Feminists successfully lobbied Congress to extend the ERA’s ratification deadline to June 30, 1982. The ERA, however, was not ratified by the three states needed to ensure its passage. In 1982, conservative women proclaimed the Equal Rights Amendment officially dead.

In 2023, conservative women’s groups like the Eagle Forum and Concerned Women for America continue to make the same arguments against the ERA. Instead of focusing on the battlefield, however, the groups argue that the ERA will eliminate restrictions on abortion and erase “women-only safe spaces” like bathrooms and locker rooms.

Protesters gather to call for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in Washington, D.C., in September 2022.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Another chance?

Since 2017, three more states – Nevada, Illinois and Virginia – have ratified the Equal Rights Amendment, bringing the total to 38 states, which is the number required to ratify the ERA and officially make it the 28th Amendment. That is why Democrats believe they have legal standing.

Some constitutional experts see Democrats’ latest attempt to codify the ERA as a political stunt rather than a legitimate legal move. To some extent, I think this may be true.

More than a dozen states have ERA equivalents that protect women’s equal rights in their constitutions. And four states, including New York, have active ERA initiatives.

The current push for Democrats to pass the ERA seems to be largely about advocating for abortion access and mobilizing abortion rights supporters ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

About half of the states across the U.S. have enacted restrictive abortion laws over the last year, with some states banning the procedure altogether. State ERA efforts, like the one in New York, are a response to these bans.

The renewed push for the ERA makes the fight over abortion access, once again, a national battle. In the current polarized political environment, abortion access promises to serve as a political lightening rod in coming years.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on Dec. 13, 2018. More