Donald Trump escapes impeachment, but still faces criminal charges


Donald Trump has evaded impeachment, but still faces criminal charges. Photo: TND/Getty
Prosecutors in New York who have been probing more than $350 million in loans Donald Trump took out on Trump Tower and three other Manhattan properties are honing in on allegations of financial crimes.
The years-old criminal investigation has made the former US president vulnerable to prosecution despite being acquitted at his second impeachment trial.
Property records show Mr Trump was loaned more than $US280 million ($A361 million) for four Manhattan buildings that prosecutors believe could possibly reveal âextensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organisationâ.
The properties in question are Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue; a skyscraper at 40 Wall Street; a hotel and residential building on Columbus Circle near Central Park; and an apartment building on the Upper East Side.

Inside the Trump Tower atrium. Photo: Getty
The loans were made to Mr Trump by companies connected to New York City real estate investment trust, Ladder Capital Corp.
Mr Trump is in the spotlight for allegedly making dodgy deals in which he kept two sets of record-keeping books, giving one set of figures to his lenders and a different set to tax authorities.
A decision is imminent on whether District Attorney Cyrus Vance can access Mr Trumpâs tax records.
He is one of the investigators who are looking to see if whatâs on the former presidentâs tax records differ from whatâs on his financial statements.
There are concerns Mr Trump gave out fake information on his loan applications to get the loans for the four buildings approved.
Mr Trump faces a swathe of other legal problems now that heâs out of the White House.
Heâs staring down the barrel of at least two state-level investigations â one in New York, the other in Georgia â as well as criminal charges for his role in the Capitol Hill riots.
And this time, he wonât have nearly as many Republicans going in to bat for him.
Quite the opposite.
Despite the majority of Republican senators voting to acquit Mr Trump in the impeachment trial, many of them expressed outrage at the former presidentâs involvement in the Capitol Hill riots and pointed to the court system as an avenue for further prosecution.
âThe ultimate accountability is through our criminal justice system where political passions are checked,â said Republican senator Thom Tillis, who voted not guilty.
âNo president is above the law or immune from criminal prosecution, and that includes former president Trump.â

Mitch McConnell slammed Mr Trump for his role in encouraging the insurrection. Photo: Getty
Minority leader Mitch McConnell, who also voted to acquit, slammed Mr Trump for his role in encouraging the insurrection at Capitol Hill.
âImpeachment was never meant to be the final forum for American justice,â he told the Senate.
âWe have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being held accountable by either one.â
From the outset, this position might seem like a convenient way for Republicans to evade responsibility.
But the threat of criminal prosecution is a real possibility for Mr Trump.
Here are the incidents that heâs under investigation for.
Inciting the Capitol Hill riots

An army brimming with hate and fury, rioters storm Capitol Hill. Photo: AP
The former president has reportedly voiced concerns about being prosecuted for his role in the January 6 riot, according to CNN.Â
Thatâs when he implored his followers to âfight like hell ⌠or youâre not going to have a country any moreâ shortly before they stormed the Capitol.
Acting US Attorney Michael Sherwin said authorities were âlooking at all actorsâ responsible for the attack, and âif the evidence fits the elements of the crime, theyâre going to be chargedâ.
Pressuring Georgia state officials to flip the vote
Both Georgiaâs Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis are investigating Mr Trumpâs efforts to pressure state officials to âfind 11,780 votesâ to flip the state during the presidential election.
Mr Trumpâs phone calls may have violated at least three state criminal election laws:
- Conspiracy to commit election fraud
- Criminal solicitation to commit election fraud; and
- Intentional interference with performance of election duties.
The criminal and misdemeanour violations are punishable by fines or imprisonment.








