Donald Trump, always the liar and cheat, has repeatedly described civil verdicts against him regarding sexual abuse and business fraud as a “witch hunt” and “political persecution” initiated by Democratic opponents. Trump also hasn’t always been a Republican.
Donald Trump has switched his political party affiliation multiple times throughout his life. He was a registered Republican from 1987 to 1999, joined the Independence Party (1999–2001), became a Democrat (2001–2009), returned to the Republican Party (2009–2011), was unaffiliated (2011–2012), and rejoined the Republicans in 2012.
Regarding “witch hunts,” Trump’s history going back decades shows another story, which is not a lie.
In February 2024, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit—which included Judge Karen L. Henderson, appointed by George H.W. Bush—upheld a lower court ruling that denied Trump broad immunity from federal prosecution. The court ruled that as a former president, he was “citizen Trump” and could be prosecuted for acts committed while in office.
In December 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit—again with Republican appointees on the bench—upheld a decision that Trump could be held liable in civil lawsuits related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Analysis of the 2025 judicial term, according to The New York times, showed that Trump’s appellate judge appointees voted overwhelmingly (92%) to allow his administration’s policies to take effect.
In August 2025, a New York appellate court, which included Republican-appointed judge David Friedman, threw out a $500 million civil fraud penalty, calling it “excessive,” but upheld the findings of liability and guilt.
On May 30, 2024, a New York jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. This case was overseen by Judge Juan Merchan, who was appointed to the bench by a Republican Mayor, the verdict was reached by a jury of citizens after they heard the evidence.
While some legal proceedings have taken place in front of judges appointed by different parties, the convictions and liabilities were largely decided by juries or were civil findings of liability rather than criminal “guilty” verdicts by Republican-appointed judges themselves.
Donald Trump has been the subject of investigations, lawsuits, and allegations of improper or illegal activity throughout his career, spanning more than five decades. While specific criminal indictments did not occur until 2023, federal, state, and regulatory investigators have probed his business dealings in every decade since the 1970s.
- 1970s: The Department of Justice accused Trump and his father of discriminating against Black renters in their apartment buildings (settled in 1975 without admission of guilt).
- 1980s: Federal investigators probed whether Trump’s real estate projects were linked to organized crime figures, and New Jersey officials probed his ties to mob-connected individuals during the development of his Atlantic City casinos. He also paid a $750,000 fine in 1988 for violating antitrust laws regarding stock trades.
- 1990s: Regulators in New Jersey investigated his financial stability, and he was involved in civil lawsuits regarding his casino bankruptcy, which included illegal advance payments on his inheritance.
- 2000s: Federal securities regulators cited his casino company for misleading financial reporting.
- 2010s: Trump University was sued for fraud, resulting in a $25 million settlement in 2018. Following his election, he was impeached twice, with allegations including solicitation of foreign interference in the 2016 election.
- 2020s: Trump faced criminal investigations for election interference, mishandling classified documents, and fraud, resulting in his first indictment in March 2023.
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