Honestly, trying to keep track of Donald Trump's legal drama over the last few years has felt like trying to drink from a firehose. One day it’s a headline about a hush money payment, the next it’s an update on a classified documents stash in a Florida bathroom, and then suddenly we're talking about RICO charges in Georgia.
It’s messy. It’s loud. And if you’re confused about the final tally, you aren't alone.
But if we’re looking at the hard numbers—the kind that actually end up on a permanent record—the answer is specific. As of early 2026, Donald Trump has been convicted of 34 felony counts.
The Manhattan Case: 34 for 34
The big moment happened back in May 2024. A jury in Manhattan found the former (and now current) president guilty on every single count he faced in that specific trial. These weren't 34 different crimes in the way most people think of them—like 34 separate bank robberies. Instead, they were 34 counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree.
Basically, the prosecution argued that Trump covered up a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The money itself wasn't the illegal part. The "felony" part kicked in because the DA, Alvin Bragg, proved these records were faked to hide another crime—interfering with the 2016 election.
You might remember the names: Michael Cohen, the "fixer" who went to jail; David Pecker, the tabloid king; and the infamous "ledger" where reimbursements were labeled as legal expenses.
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What happened to the sentencing?
This is where it gets kinda weird. Usually, when someone is convicted of 34 felonies, they get sentenced pretty quickly. But Trump isn't exactly a "usual" defendant.
After his victory in the 2024 election, everything hit a massive pause button. Judge Juan Merchan eventually sentenced him on January 10, 2025—just ten days before his second inauguration. The result? An unconditional discharge.
That means no jail, no probation, and no fines.
Merchan basically said that while the crimes were serious, the legal protections of the presidency made any other sentence impossible to enforce. It was a "class of one" situation. Even so, the conviction stands on the books. Trump is, legally speaking, a convicted felon, even if he's currently sitting in the Oval Office.
The Cases That Disappeared
You’ve probably heard about the other 50+ charges. At one point, the "how many felonies" question had a much scarier potential answer—upward of 91 counts.
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But things changed fast once he took office again. Here is the breakdown of the "disappeared" cases:
- The Federal Cases: Special Counsel Jack Smith was leading two massive investigations—one into the January 6th Capitol riot and another into the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago. In November 2024, Smith dropped both cases. Why? Because the Department of Justice has a long-standing policy: you can't prosecute a sitting president. Those federal charges are essentially gone.
- The Georgia RICO Case: This one was a blockbuster. Fani Willis, the Fulton County DA, charged Trump and a dozen others with a massive conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. However, after months of legal wrangling over an "appearance of impropriety" regarding Willis's personal life, the case eventually collapsed. By early 2026, those charges were dismissed, and Trump’s lawyers are currently fighting to get the county to pay back millions in legal fees.
Is he still appealing the 34 counts?
Yes. Absolutely.
Trump’s legal team is currently trying to get those 34 Manhattan convictions tossed out at the Second Circuit. Their main argument is presidential immunity. They claim that some of the evidence used in the trial—like testimony from former White House aide Hope Hicks—involved "official acts" from his first term. According to a 2024 Supreme Court ruling, you can't use evidence from official acts to prosecute a president for private ones.
If they win that appeal, that 34-count number could drop to zero. If they lose, it stays at 34. For now, the record is what it is.
Why the number matters for 2026
While the legal battles seem like they're in the rearview mirror for the White House, they still have a massive impact on the 2026 midterm elections.
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Critics call him a "convicted felon" in every campaign ad. Supporters call it a "political witch hunt." Regardless of how you feel, the fact remains that 12 ordinary citizens in New York looked at the evidence and said "guilty" 34 times.
What to keep an eye on next:
- The Appeal Ruling: Watch for a decision from the New York appeals courts or the Second Circuit. This is the only way the 34-count number changes.
- Legal Fee Battles: The fight in Georgia over who pays the $17 million in defense costs is heating up and could set a huge precedent for how "failed" prosecutions are handled in the future.
- Executive Orders: Trump has already started using executive power to change how the DOJ handles classified info and election oversight, which some see as a direct response to his own past legal troubles.
If you're trying to stay informed, the most important thing is to separate the "indicted" number (which was once 91) from the "convicted" number (which is 34). One is an accusation; the other is a verdict.
Actionable Insight:
To track the status of the ongoing Manhattan appeal, you should regularly check the New York Unified Court System's public records or follow non-partisan legal trackers like Lawfare or SCOTUSblog, as these sources provide raw filings rather than partisan commentary. Knowing the difference between an "unconditional discharge" and an "acquittal" is key to understanding why Trump remains a felon despite having no court-ordered restrictions on his freedom.