Election victory gives Trump reprieve from federal, State charges

Donald Trump's election victory grants him a reprieve from legal battles, including federal charges and racketeering accusations.

Donald Trump’s election victory not only catapults him back to the White House but grants him a reprieve from looming court battles and soaring legal bills.

As U.S. President, 78-year-old Mr. Trump can make the federal criminal cases facing him vanish and see the State cases put on hold until he leaves the Oval Office four years from now.

Special counsel Jack Smith has filed two federal charges against Mr. Trump, for conspiring to overturn the results of 2020 election and for mishandling top secret documents after leaving the White House.

He also faces racketeering charges over his alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election results in Georgia, and in May was convicted in a hush money case in New York. But a Supreme Court ruling in May granted the him broad immunity from criminal prosecution.

Mr. Trump pledged during the election campaign to fire Mr. Smith “within two seconds” of taking office, even though he does not have the authority as President. But he could name a new Attorney-General who could do so. The new President could also simply order the Justice Department to drop the charges.

Mr. Smith, who was appointed by Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden’s Attorney-General, brought two cases against Mr. Trump — for conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election and for mishandling top secret documents after leaving the White House.

Mr. Trump is also accused of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding — the session of Congress called to certify the Biden win which was violently attacked on January 6, 2021, by a mob of his supporters.