Trump has spent the last four years using the White House as a shield against facing consequences for his crimes, but in just 15 days, that protection ends, and we need to launch a campaign to demand that state and federal officials use their power to investigate—and, if necessary, indict and prosecute—him for his laundry list of corruption and criminality.

Dear MoveOn member,

On Sunday, The Washington Post released shocking audio of an hour-long phone call between Donald Trump and election officials in Georgia in which Trump spouts endless conspiracy theories claiming he won the election, begs officials to "find" enough votes to change the outcome, and even threatens them with legal action if they don't do his bidding.1

Not only is this call an outrageous and disgusting example of Trump's failing attempts at overthrowing our democracy, it also likely violates both state and federal election interference laws, and Trump must be held to account the moment he leaves office.2

Trump has spent the last four years using the White House as a shield against facing consequences for his crimes, but in just 15 days, that protection ends, and we need to launch a campaign to demand that state and federal officials use their power to investigate—and, if necessary, indict and prosecute—him for his laundry list of corruption and criminality.

John, we need your help to fuel our efforts. From running billboards to buying ads to holding rallies, we want to do whatever it takes to keep up the pressure for Trump to be prosecuted for his crimes when he leaves office. Will you chip in just $5 a month to help give us the resources we need to launch and sustain this campaign for as long as it takes?

Yes, I'll chip in monthly.

No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.

This call with Georgia officials is only the latest in a long list of criminal offenses that could put Trump in legal jeopardy starting January 20. Here are nine more to round out our Top 10 List:

  1. His campaign finance violations. Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen admitted in 2018 that he arranged hush money payments using campaign funds to stop Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels, who both alleged that they had affairs with Trump, from sharing their stories during the 2016 election cycle.3 Cohen was sent to prison for his part in these crimes, and although he admitted that Trump directed him to make the payments, Trump avoided prosecution at the time because of his status as the president. But Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. is still looking into these allegations, and when Trump leaves office, he could still be charged in relation to the payments.4
  2. Tax fraud. The Manhattan DA is also actively pursuing an investigation into Trump and the Trump Organization's taxes, and the potential implications are massive.5 Trump lost an appeal in October to stop the DA from subpoenaing his tax returns, which the DA has suggested will show "possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct" that could lead to years behind bars.6
  3. Real estate fraud. Since 2019, the New York attorney general has been investigating allegations that Trump and his company have routinely inflated the value of his properties in order to secure loans and reduce his taxes.7 Trump has refused to participate in the investigation thus far, using his status as the president as an excuse.8 But starting at 12:01 p.m. on January 20, he can no longer hide from the investigation.
  4. Conspiracy to defraud the United States. Put simply: It's illegal for anyone to agree to obstruct the work of a federal agency—in this case, the United States Postal Service. If Trump and his administration are found to have made attempts to sabotage the Postal Service in an effort to influence the results of the 2020 election, they can all be held liable.9
  5. Violating the emoluments clause. Trump has repeatedly used the office of the president to promote his private businesses and make money. There are currently three active lawsuits against Trump for violating the emoluments clause by hosting foreign officials at multiple Trump properties during his time in office and accepting large sums of money from them without consent from Congress.10
  6. Violating the Hatch Act. The Hatch Act bars federal employees from engaging in certain political activities while on the job, and although the president is not technically bound by the Hatch Act, he can still be held criminally liable for coercing other federal employees to violate it—as Trump did multiple times in 2020 alone by holding campaign events at the White House.11
  7. Obstruction of justice. In his report on the Trump campaign's involvement in 2016 election interference, special counsel Robert Mueller identified at least 10 instances of Trump obstructing justice through his attempts to stop the investigation, fire those involved, stop the disclosure of evidence, and more.12
  8. Bribery. The crux of the impeachment case against Trump was bribery. He withheld nearly $400 million in military aid from Ukraine and asked that officials find dirt on then-candidate Joe Biden in return for the aid being released.13 Although he was acquitted in a sham trial in the Senate, the Constitution does not bar Trump from facing criminal charges for this bribery once leaving office.14
  9. Multiple allegations of sexual assault. At least 26 women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct and sexual assault since the 1970s, and there are two active lawsuits brought by survivors against Trump which will move forward after he leaves office.15,16

Any one of these crimes would be enough to result in serious legal consequences for people outside of public office—and in just 15 days, that will be Donald Trump.

But make no mistake: One of the reasons he is trying so hard to overturn the election results is because he knows how much trouble he could be in the second he starts life as a former president, and he will do whatever he can to avoid facing the music. It is also still possible that he will attempt to preemptively pardon himself, but presidential pardon power only covers federal laws, meaning any laws he broke in New York, Georgia, or anywhere else aren't covered, and leading lawyers argue that presidents cannot pardon themselves.

Will you chip in $5 a month so we can lay the groundwork and build the resources needed to mount a massive public pressure campaign to hold Trump accountable for his crimes as soon as he leaves office on January 20?

Yes, I'll chip in monthly.

No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.

MoveOn is ready to lead this fight. During Trump's presidency, MoveOn members led the charge to demand his impeachment, including running mobile billboards on trucks across the country, rallying together by the thousands in the streets, running television, newspaper, and digital ads, and even renting an impeachment-themed ice cream truck in Washington, D.C.

We're ready to do it again—because even while we focus on moving our nation forward with President Biden and Vice President Harris, it is critically important that we show those that may want to follow in Trump's footsteps that no one is above the law.

Will you join us by chipping in just $5 a month?

Yes, I'll chip in monthly.

No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.

Thanks for all you do.

–David, Mary, Ankur, Kate, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "'I just want to find 11,780 votes': In extraordinary hour-long call, Trump pressures Georgia secretary of state to recalculate the vote in his favor," The Washington Post, January 3, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/149228?t=8&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

2. "Trump Call to Georgia Official Might Violate State and Federal Law," The New York Times, January 3, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/149229?t=10&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

3. "Criminal probe, legal fights await Trump after White House," Associated Press, November 20, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/149230?t=12&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. "A rap sheet for a former president," The Washington Post, October 16, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/149231?t=14&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

7. "Criminal probe, legal fights await Trump after White House," Associated Press, November 20, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/149230?t=16&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

8. Ibid.

9. "A rap sheet for a former president," The Washington Post, October 16, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/149231?t=18&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

10. "Appeals court greenlights emoluments suit against Trump," Politico, May 14, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/149232?t=20&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

11. "18 U.S. Code § 610 - Coercion of political activity," Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute, accessed January 5, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/149233?t=22&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

12. "The 10 areas where Mueller investigated Trump for obstruction," The Washington Post, April 18, 2019
https://act.moveon.org/go/149234?t=24&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

13. "Trump ordered hold on military aid days before calling Ukrainian president, officials say," The Washington Post, September 23, 2019
https://act.moveon.org/go/149235?t=26&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

14. "A rap sheet for a former president," The Washington Post, October 16, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/149231?t=28&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

15. "The 26 women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct," Business Insider, September 17, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/52836?t=30&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

16. "Trump's legal battles: How six cases may play out," BBC News, November 15, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/149236?t=32&akid=287143%2E40999114%2EsgGZIO

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