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Donald Trump Facing ‘Multiple Legal Challenges’

Donald Trump Facing ‘Multiple Legal Challenges’

One legal expert says the former president could face jail time if found guilty

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A legal expert says it's 'pretty likely' Donald Trump could be sent to jail if convicted of one of the numerous legal challenges he faces.

The former president is the defendant in 29 lawsuits, according to a report in The Washington Post and has also become the subject of 'several' criminal investigations, including one which ended with lawyers accessing his tax returns - something Trump has previously tried to keep under wraps.

According to the New York Times, Trump is being investigated for possible bank, tax and insurance fraud by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

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Trump denies any wrong-doing and has spoken out to say he's 'proud' of his tax returns.

Legal analyst Jay Michaelson told the Daily Beast's The New Abnormal podcast back in February that if found guilty, it's 'pretty likely' Trump could face jail time.

Michaelson said: "Trump's lawyers will always come up with something, but there should be no reason why the grand jury won't get these financial records tomorrow."

He added: "Will he go to jail for, like, the rest of his life? Probably no.

"Is it possible that this would lead to criminal charges that would carry jail time? I would say that's pretty likely, and we could have a grand jury indictment fairly soon.

"A lot of these kinds of white-collar crimes are settled, and they're settled out for large financial settlements. In this case, I'm not sure that Cy Vance is interested in settling with Donald Trump - even if Donald Trump could afford the fines that he would have to pay, which I don't think he can."

Before running in the 2016 US election, Trump said he would 'absolutely' make his tax returns public, before later saying he would if it were 'necessary'.

He then explained why he hadn't, saying: "I get audited. And obviously if I'm being audited, I'm not going to release a return.

"As soon as the audit is done, I love it."

Since then Trump has fought to keep his tax returns private, but last month the Supreme Court rejected his appeal to keep the records closed from prosecutors.

However, this doesn't mean they'll be made public - but it does mean they could be shown to a grand jury in New York.

In a statement after the ruling, Trump said e was the victim of 'the greatest political witch hunt in the history of our country'.

Before adding that the way prosecutors had 'headhunted' him was a 'threat to the very foundation of liberty'.

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He went on: "In the meantime, murders and violent crime are up in New York City by record numbers, and nothing is done about it. Our elected officials don't care. All they focus on is the persecution of president Donald J Trump.

"I will fight on, just as I have, for the last five years (even before I was successfully elected), despite all of the election crimes that were committed against me. We will win!"

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: US News, Donald Trump