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In what seems to be a regular occurrence even for the particularly turbulent former president, Donald Trump is having a bad week. Or, more accurately, he's had an extremely bad day.
On Tuesday, Representative Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol, gave the strongest indication yet that the panel will be recommending the Department of Justice brings forward charges in connection to the insurrection Trump is accused of inciting and then failing to stop.
Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Thompson said there is a "general agreement we will do some referrals," but the panel has "got to get there."
Any criminal referrals will likely be made when the January 6 committee delivers its report, expected to arrive by the end of the year. When the next congressional term opens in January, the GOP-controlled House is expected to shut down any committee inquiry into January 6 or Trump.
However, a criminal referral is a largely symbolic gesture and not a guarantee that charges will be brought against anyone in relation to the January 6 attack, especially a former president.
The potentially historic decision will still need to be made by the Department of Justice and Attorney General Merrick Garland, who has kept his cards close to his chest with regard to bringing indictments while stating that any decision will be made on "the facts and the law" rather than political influence.
Also on Tuesday, the former president's family business, the Trump Organization, was found guilty on 17 counts of tax fraud and other offenses following a trial in New York.
While Trump was not charged in the criminal case, his name was referenced in relation to the 15-year-long criminal scheme which saw the company avoid paying taxes by compensating its executives through "off-the-books" benefits including luxury apartments and cars.
The trial was heavily reliant on the testimony of the Trump Organization's long-time chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, who previously pleaded guilty to 15 counts relating to tax evasion, but did not implicate Trump.
Following the guilty verdict, the company could face up to $1.6 million in fines, with the conviction meaning the real estate company may also face difficulties in conducting business and gaining loans in the future.
Dave Aronberg, state attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida, previously told Newsweek that the verdict is merely an "embarrassment" rather than severely consequential for the Trump Organization or the former president, but there could be "lasting repercussions" if the Internal Revenue Service opens a criminal investigation.
"The IRS has jurisdiction and can make things much more difficult for the former president and his company," Aronberg said.
The conclusion of the tax fraud case, headed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, could also impact a civil investigation that is running parallel alongside it.
New York Attorney General Letitia James' office is looking into claims Trump and his family business inflated or undervalued the worth of a number of assets to obtain benefits such as better bank loans and reduced tax bills.
James in September said that she is suing Trump and three of his children—Donald Jr, Ivanka, and Eric—and two senior executives at the Trump Organization for $250 million, claiming the former president falsely inflated his net worth by billions of dollars to "unjustly enrich himself and cheat the system."
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing with regard to the allegations in James' civil investigation and dismissed it as being a politically motivated "witch hunt" against him and his family.
Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and president of the West Coast Trial Lawyers law firm, told Newsweek: "The timing of the two New York cases, as well as a likely January 6 committee referral to the Department of Justice, is bad news for the Trump camp.
"The tax fraud case which just concluded and the [James'] bank fraud case have nothing to do with one another, in theory.
"Judge Engoron in the bank fraud trial will instruct jurors that the cases are completely separate and to decide the lawsuit solely on the evidence they hear in court. But jurors may still be influenced by these other proceedings, even implicitly."
On top of all this, Trump is still facing possible charges in other criminal investigations. In Georgia, a special grand jury is hearing evidence on whether Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 election results.
The former president is also under investigation over allegations he mishandled classified documents recovered from his Mar-a-Lago resort in August as well as alleged attempts to obstruct efforts by federal officers to retrieve the materials.
Trump has frequently denied any wrongdoing in either investigation.
In a statement after the Trump Organization's guilty verdict, Trump said the company plans on appealing the decision.
"This case was about Allen Weisselberg committing tax fraud on his personal tax returns, etc., with he and every witness repeatedly testifying that President Trump and the Trump Family knew nothing about his actions, which he admits were done solely for his own benefit, and with no benefit to the two companies," Trump said.
"This case is unprecedented and involved no monetary gain to these two Corporations. It is a continuation of the Greatest Political Witch Hunt in the History of our Country. New York City is a hard place to be 'Trump,' as businesses and people flee our once Great City!"
Update, 12/08/22 4:00 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Neama Rahmani.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, and Florida ... Read more