Historic actions by the FBI and other federal authorities have focused on the former president of the United States, part of a broader set of investigations in which Donald Trump sits at the center. He faces a growing slate of legal and political scrutiny for a number of reasons. The following outline highlights the major areas under examination.
January 6 Judicial Investigation
The Department of Justice has convened a federal grand jury in Washington to examine efforts by Trump and his inner circle to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. This includes the attempted selection of fake electors, pressure on state election officials, and actions that could have influenced the outcome at the federal level and, indirectly, the vice presidency. The inquiry probes how these moves were coordinated and what role various aides may have played in those efforts.
January 6 Congressional Investigation
Action against the Capitol attack and the broader attempt to remain in power has also been the subject of examination by the House committee established in Congress. While the committee does not hold impeachment power, it can refer its findings to the Justice Department. In its June briefing, the panel argued that Trump and allied figures organized a fundraising strategy built on the premise of a stolen election. The committee’s work seeks to determine how such claims were used to influence political activity and to understand the sequence of events surrounding the assault on the Capitol.
In both the criminal inquiry and the congressional investigation, the U.S. Attorney General has faced significant scrutiny from critics who see aggressive measures as excessive. Legal experts, however, emphasize that the Attorney General has wide latitude in pursuing criminal charges if evidence shows corrupt intent. If any charges are filed, the case would enter uncharted territory, as no former president has ever been formally charged with a crime in U.S. history.
Georgia Intervention
Fulton County’s district attorney convened a grand jury in May to review Trump’s efforts to influence state officials to reverse Georgia’s election results. A notable focus is Trump’s call to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, urging him to find enough votes to overturn Joe Biden’s victory. Additional pressures on local election authorities and the procedures used to pursue those aims are also under investigation, highlighting concerns about possible state-level interference in the electoral process.
Business Investigations
Both the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the New York State Attorney General are scrutinizing the business practices of Trump and his organization. These inquiries span criminal and civil dimensions, with prosecutors examining financial dealings and corporate governance in parallel. Core questions center on whether asset values were inflated to obtain favorable loans or underreported to secure tax advantages. In July of the previous year, a grand jury brought initial charges against the Trump Organization and its financial adviser, Allen Weisselberg, marking a high-profile moment in the ongoing investigations.
Meanwhile, congressional committees continue to examine the organization’s conduct. Despite a string of legal questions and courtroom decisions, the committees have pressed forward with efforts to obtain financial records and tax information, seeking to determine the extent of any improper disclosures or noncompliance with tax obligations. The issue of whether Trump complied with tax filing requirements has been a point of contention, with ongoing disputes over access to records and the scope of investigations.
Handling of Information and Documents
Recent actions appear to be connected to a broader Department of Justice inquiry into the mishandling of classified materials, rather than solely to the January 6 events or election-related matters. House committees have also explored potential irregularities concerning the removal, storage, and destruction of documents that fall under the Presidential Records Act and are supposed to be preserved for the National Archives. The aim of this line of inquiry is to determine whether proper procedures were followed in safeguarding sensitive information and whether any records were improperly retained or turned over.