Treacherous Trails: Trump's Tangled Legal Landscape in His Tumultuous Second Term

Donald Trump faces unprecedented legal challenges across multiple fronts as his second term progresses. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, former President Trump is facing three active criminal prosecutions. He was convicted of felonies in New York in May 2024 for falsification of business records to conceal hush money payments to an adult film actor during his 2016 campaign. Of the remaining criminal cases, two involve his role in attempts to reverse the 2020 election, with one prosecution in federal court in Washington and another in state court in Fulton County, Georgia. He is also being prosecuted in federal court in Florida for breaking laws related to his handling of classified documents.

Beyond criminal matters, Trump's legal calendar remains crowded. According to Lawfare's Trump Administration Litigation Tracker, there are currently 298 active cases challenging Trump administration actions. The tracker shows 14 Supreme Court stays or orders to vacate lower court orders, with judges ruling against the federal government in 22 suits so far.

A particularly significant development involves Trump's attempts to remove officials from independent agencies. The Supreme Court appears likely to prevent Trump from firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, according to analysis from SCOTUSblog. In August 2025, Trump posted screenshots on Truth Social of a letter firing Cook, contending she had committed mortgage fraud by designating both a house in Michigan and a condo in Atlanta as her primary residence within a two-week period. Cook has unequivocally denied these allegations. During oral arguments, the court wrestled with whether Cook was entitled to notice and an opportunity to be heard before termination, a right the Trump administration disputed.

This case is part of the Supreme Court's broader examination of presidential authority over independent agencies. The justices also heard arguments regarding Rebecca Slaughter, a Federal Trade Commission member Trump fired in March, and are expected to decide by summer whether federal law barring removal except for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance violates separation of powers principles.

On Capitol Hill, according to the 119th Congress records, a House resolution introduced in April 2025 seeks to impeach President Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors, setting forth seven articles of impeachment covering obstruction of justice, violation of due process, usurpation of appropriations power, abuse of trade powers, violation of First Amendment rights, creation of an unlawful office, bribery and corruption, and tyranny.

The Supreme Court is also examining other Trump policies for the upcoming year, including the legality of declaring an emergency to impose extensive tariffs on imported goods without congressional consent. An unfavorable ruling could compel the government to reimburse over 100 billion dollars in tariffs already collected.

These legal battles represent a complex intersection of constitutional law, separation of powers, and administrative authority that will likely shape American governance throughout 2026.

Thank you for tuning in to this update on Trump's ongoing legal challenges. Join us next week for more developments in these consequential cases. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please dot AI.

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