If you’ve been trying to keep track of Donald Trump’s legal battles lately, honestly, I don't blame you for being confused. It’s been a whirlwind. One day there are 91 charges, the next it’s 88, and then suddenly, cases are vanishing into thin air.
Most people are still stuck on the headlines from 2023. But it's 2026. The landscape has shifted so much that the original "four indictments" narrative is basically a historical artifact at this point.
Let’s get into what really happened with Trump’s charges and where things actually stand while he's back in the Oval Office.
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The New York Conviction: The Only One That Stuck
You probably remember the "hush money" trial. Technically, it was about falsifying business records. In May 2024, a Manhattan jury found him guilty on all 34 felony counts.
That was a huge moment. First time a former president became a convicted felon.
But here’s the kicker: the sentencing kept getting pushed back. First because of the Supreme Court's immunity ruling, then because of the 2024 election. Finally, on January 10, 2025—just days before he was inaugurated again—Judge Juan Merchan handed down the sentence.
He got an unconditional discharge.
Basically, that means the conviction stays on his record, but there’s no jail time, no fines, and no probation. It’s the legal version of a "don't do it again" with no actual teeth. Trump’s team filed an appeal in October 2025, and that’s still grinding through the New York courts right now. They’re arguing the whole thing should be wiped because of presidential immunity.
What Happened to the Federal Cases?
This is where it gets sort of wild. Jack Smith, the Special Counsel, had two massive cases: the classified documents one in Florida and the election interference one in D.C.
Both are gone.
- The Florida Documents Case: Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed this one in July 2024. She ruled that Jack Smith’s appointment as Special Counsel was actually unconstitutional. The DOJ tried to appeal it, but after Trump won the 2024 election, they basically dropped the whole thing in November 2024.
- The D.C. Election Case: Same story here. Once he became President-elect, the Department of Justice’s long-standing policy against prosecuting a sitting president kicked in. Jack Smith shut down the office, and the charges were dismissed.
So, if you’re looking for a trial date for those 40+ federal charges? There isn't one. They don’t exist anymore.
The Georgia RICO Case: The Final Domino
For a long time, the Georgia case—led by Fani Willis—was the big "maybe." It was a state case, so Trump couldn't pardon himself out of it.
But it ran into a wall of drama and legal hurdles. First, there was the whole thing with Fani Willis and the special prosecutor. Then, the Georgia Court of Appeals stepped in.
In late 2024, the court disqualified Willis from the case. The Georgia Supreme Court refused to let her back on in September 2025. Eventually, a new prosecutor took over and, seeing the writing on the wall with the sitting president's immunity, declined to pursue it.
In November 2025, the Georgia election interference case was officially dismissed.
The Current Tally of Charges
To make it simple, here is how the numbers moved from the original indictments to today:
- Manhattan (Falsified Business Records): 34 Charges. Status: Convicted. (Sentenced to unconditional discharge; currently under appeal).
- Federal Florida (Classified Documents): 40 Charges. Status: Dismissed.
- Federal D.C. (Election Interference): 4 Charges. Status: Dismissed.
- Georgia (RICO/Election Interference): Originally 13 charges (some were tossed earlier). Status: Dismissed.
The New 2026 Reality: Impeachment and Civil Fines
While the criminal charges have mostly evaporated, Trump isn't exactly "lawsuit-free."
In the House, there’s already movement on H.Res.353, an impeachment resolution for "high crimes and misdemeanors." It’s mostly political theater at this stage, but it shows that the "charges" have shifted from the courtroom back to the Capitol.
Then there’s the money. The civil fraud case in New York? He was ordered to pay over $450 million. With interest, that number is climbing every single day. He’s been fighting to stay the execution of that judgment while he’s in office, but the New York Attorney General, Letitia James, isn't letting up.
Why This Still Matters
You might think, "If the charges are dismissed, why does it matter?"
It matters because it sets a massive precedent. We are currently watching the legal system wrestle with how to handle a person who is simultaneously a convicted felon and the Commander-in-Chief.
There's also the "shadow" of the dismissed charges. The records from Jack Smith’s investigation—the "Smith Reports"—were partially released in early 2025. Even without a trial, the evidence is out there in the public record.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed
If you want to keep up with this without losing your mind, don't just look at social media headlines.
- Check the Court Dockets: For the New York appeal, look at the New York Unified Court System website. It’s dry, but it’s the only place for the actual facts.
- Differentiate Civil vs. Criminal: Remember that he still owes hundreds of millions in civil court (E. Jean Carroll and the NY Fraud case). Those didn't go away just because the criminal charges did.
- Follow Legal Analysts, Not Just Pundits: Look for people like those at Lawfare or SCOTUSblog who break down the specific filings rather than just the political "vibes."
The saga of Trump’s charges is less about a "day in court" now and more about a long, slow grind of appeals and constitutional debates that will likely outlast his second term.
To get the most accurate picture of the ongoing civil liabilities, you should specifically track the New York Appellate Division's rulings on the $450 million fraud judgment, as that remains the most significant active legal pressure on the administration.