Donald Trump has been a public figure for decades, but many Americans are only now learning the extent of his wrongdoing. The former president has been accused of a litany of crimes, from bank fraud to sexual assault, and yet he has faced few consequences. Here is a closer look at the allegations against Trump and why he has been able to evade accountability for so long.
Bank fraud
Trump has a long history of shady business deals and financial impropriety. In 2020, The New York Times published a bombshell report that alleged he had committed bank fraud by inflating the value of his assets to secure loans. The report also detailed how Trump had lied about his wealth to gain favorable business deals and avoid taxes.
This behavior isn't new for Trump. In the 1980s, he allegedly used phony invoices to deceive lenders and inflate his net worth. He also reportedly lied about his income and assets when applying for loans. In 2011, Trump even admitted to inflating his net worth by $4 billion when speaking to Forbes magazine.
Despite the mounting evidence against him, Trump has not been charged with bank fraud. Some legal experts believe that the statute of limitations has expired on some of his alleged crimes, while others suggest that prosecutors may be hesitant to pursue charges against a former president.
Tax fraud
Trump's tax returns have long been a subject of controversy. In 2016, he broke with tradition by refusing to release his tax returns, citing an ongoing audit. The audit never materialized, and Trump has continued to fight efforts to make his returns public.
In 2020, The New York Times obtained and published Trump's tax returns, revealing that he had paid only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017. The returns also showed that Trump had claimed large deductions for losses that may not have been legitimate.
The allegations of tax fraud against Trump extend beyond his personal returns. His businesses have also been accused of underreporting income and overstating expenses. In 2019, The Washington Post reported that Trump had inflated the value of his golf courses and resorts to lower his tax bills.
Charity fraud
Trump's charitable foundation, the Trump Foundation, was forced to dissolve in 2019 after it was found to have engaged in a pattern of illegal activity. The foundation had allegedly used charitable donations to pay off Trump's personal debts and to fund his presidential campaign.
The New York attorney general's office sued the foundation in 2018, alleging that it had violated state and federal law. The lawsuit also accused Trump and his children, who served as the foundation's board members, of "persistently illegal conduct." As part of a settlement, the foundation agreed to dissolve and pay $2 million to various charities.
Despite these allegations, Trump has continued to present himself as a philanthropist. He has frequently claimed to have donated millions of dollars to charity, but there is little evidence to support these claims.
Sexual assault
Trump has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women. The allegations range from unwanted kissing and groping to rape. Many of the accusers came forward during the 2016 presidential campaign, but Trump dismissed the claims as lies and political attacks.
The most high-profile allegation against Trump came from writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of raping her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump denied the allegations and claimed he had never met Carroll, despite photographic evidence to the contrary.
Trump has faced no legal consequences for these allegations, though some of the accusers have pursued civil suits against him. In 2019, writer and former advice columnist for Elle magazine, E. Jean Carroll, sued Trump for defamation after he denied raping her.
Money laundering
Trump's businesses have been accused of money laundering by several media outlets and financial experts. The allegations stem from the fact that Trump's properties have been purchased by shell companies and wealthy individuals with ties to foreign governments.
In 2017, Deutsche Bank, one of Trump's lenders, was fined $630 million by US and UK regulators for allowing Russian oligarchs to launder money through its accounts. The bank had loaned Trump more than $2 billion over the years, despite his history of defaults and bankruptcies.
The allegations of money laundering against Trump have not led to criminal charges. However, some legal experts believe that the ongoing investigations into his business dealings could eventually expose criminal activity.
Obstruction of justice
Trump's efforts to obstruct the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election have been well-documented. He fired FBI Director James Comey in 2017, allegedly to impede the investigation. He also pressured former Attorney General Jeff Sessions to unrecuse himself from the investigation and to limit its scope.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation ultimately found that Trump had attempted to obstruct justice on multiple occasions, but stopped short of recommending criminal charges.
Trump's attempts to obstruct justice continued even after the Mueller report was released. He was impeached by the House of Representatives in 2019 for pressuring the Ukrainian government to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden. The Senate ultimately acquitted him of the charges.
Obstruction of congress
Trump's efforts to obstruct congress were on full display during his impeachment trial. He refused to cooperate with the House's investigation and instructed his staff to ignore subpoenas.
Trump's refusal to cooperate with congress extended beyond the impeachment trial. He frequently ignored requests for information from congressional committees and refused to allow his staff to testify.
Trump's obstruction of congress has been widely criticized as a threat to the separation of powers and the rule of law.
Racketeering
Trump has been accused of racketeering by some legal experts, who say that his business dealings meet the definition of a criminal enterprise.
The allegations stem from the fact that Trump's businesses have been involved in a variety of illegal activities, including tax fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. Some legal experts argue that these activities were part of a larger scheme to enrich Trump and his associates.
Despite these allegations, Trump has not been charged with racketeering. Some legal experts believe that prosecutors may be hesitant to pursue such charges against a former president.
Witness tampering
Trump has been accused of witness tampering in several high-profile cases. In 2019, he tweeted about former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch while she was testifying in the impeachment inquiry.
Trump's tweet was widely seen as an attempt to intimidate Yovanovitch and to discourage other witnesses from testifying. He was also accused of witness tampering during the trial of his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.
Despite these allegations, Trump has not been charged with witness tampering. Some legal experts believe that the bar for proving witness tampering is high and that prosecutors may be hesitant to pursue such charges against a former president.
Negligent homicide
Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has been widely criticized as negligent and irresponsible. He downplayed the severity of the virus for months, refused to wear a mask in public, and promoted unproven treatments.
As a result of his inaction and misinformation, more than 400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. Some legal experts have argued that Trump's actions constitute negligent homicide, a criminal offense that involves causing someone's death through reckless or careless behavior.
Trump has not been charged with negligent homicide, but some families of COVID-19 victims have pursued civil suits against him.
Seditious conspiracy
Trump's role in inciting the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol has led some legal experts to accuse him of seditious conspiracy.
The charge of seditious conspiracy involves conspiring to overthrow the government or to prevent the execution of federal law. Some legal experts argue that Trump's actions leading up to the insurrection, including his promotion of baseless claims of election fraud and his encouragement of his supporters to march on the Capitol, meet the definition of seditious conspiracy.
Trump has not been charged with seditious conspiracy, but several of his supporters who participated in the insurrection have been arrested and charged with the offense.
Conclusion
Donald Trump's adult life has been marked by a pattern of criminal activity and ethical lapses. Despite overwhelming evidence against him, he has faced few consequences for his actions. Some legal experts believe that Trump's status as a former president has shielded him from prosecution, while others suggest that the legal system is simply not equipped to hold powerful individuals accountable.
Whatever the reason, it is clear that Trump's behavior has done significant harm to the country and its institutions. The allegations against him are serious and warrant further investigation. Only by holding him accountable can we ensure that our leaders are held to the highest standards of integrity and ethics.
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