The federal 2020 election case against Trump, from the investigation to its end

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

31% left · 55% center · 14% right of 276 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 57 stories.

Every storyoldest first

1. December 2022

   Dec 6– 7DOJ subpoenas election officials in states Trump disputed40 articles · 29 independent sources

   10 left, 7 center, 4 right

2. June 2023

   Jun 23Special counsel trades immunity for fake elector testimony as Jan 6 probe heats up6 articles · 5 independent sources

   1 left, 3 center, 0 right

3. July 2023

   Jul 27Trump lawyers meeting with prosecutors as potential new federal indictment looms, AP source says22 articles · 4 independent sources

   1 left, 2 center, 1 right

4. August 2023

   Aug 1– 2The election-meddling indictment against Trump is sprawling. Here's a breakdown of the case21 articles · 17 independent sources

   3 left, 2 center, 0 right
5. Aug 1– 2Trump indicted on efforts to overturn 2020 presidential election results290 articles · 136 independent sources

   25 left, 36 center, 16 right
6. Aug 1– 4Trump's latest indictment echoes January 6 committee findings49 articles · 26 independent sources

   7 left, 8 center, 9 right
7. Aug 2– 3Judge assigned to Trump case previously said ‘the country is watching to see what the consequences are’ for January 627 articles · 14 independent sources

   3 left, 6 center, 1 right
8. Aug 3Trump arrives at DC courthouse to face charges he tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election165 articles · 63 independent sources

   13 left, 18 center, 7 right
9. Aug 5– 11Judge to hear arguments in protective order fight in Trump's 2020 election conspiracy case38 articles · 27 independent sources

   6 left, 9 center, 7 right
10. Aug 5– 6Trump prosecutors ask judge to issue protective order70 articles · 37 independent sources

    9 left, 6 center, 4 right
11. Aug 8– 9Trump vows to keep talking about criminal cases despite prosecutors pushing for protective order9 articles · 9 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
12. Aug 9Donald Trump wants his election subversion trial moved out of Washington. That won’t be easy7 articles · 7 independent sources

    2 left, 0 center, 2 right
13. Aug 10Prosecutors seek Jan. 2 trial date for Donald Trump in his 2020 election conspiracy case45 articles · 34 independent sources

    11 left, 8 center, 3 right
14. Aug 17– 18Trump lawyers seek April 2026 trial date in federal election subversion case38 articles · 31 independent sources

    7 left, 10 center, 4 right
15. Aug 28Trump, special counsel poised to clash over trial date in D.C. election case5 articles · 3 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
16. Aug 28– 29Trump trial set for March 4, 2024, in federal case charging him with plotting to overturn election118 articles · 65 independent sources

    15 left, 20 center, 10 right

17. September 2023

    Sep 5– 6Trump's comments risk tainting jury pool in federal election subversion case, special counsel says40 articles · 24 independent sources

    2 left, 5 center, 1 right
18. Sep 11– 15Special counsel Jack Smith argues Judge Tanya Chutkan shouldn't recuse herself in Trump case21 articles · 12 independent sources

    1 left, 6 center, 3 right
19. Sep 11– 12Trump lawyers seek recusal of judge in DC presiding over federal election subversion case - The Daily Reporter23 articles · 19 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 4 right
20. Sep 15– 16Trump "daring" judge to impose Jack Smith gag order request: Legal analyst19 articles · 15 independent sources

    5 left, 1 center, 6 right
21. Sep 15– 16Prosecutors seek narrow gag order on Trump in federal election case after ‘inflammatory’ comments18 articles · 17 independent sources

    5 left, 3 center, 2 right
22. Sep 26– 29Commentary: Is it time for a federal judge to put a gag order on Donald Trump?10 articles · 10 independent sources

    5 left, 2 center, 3 right
23. Sep 27– 28Judge Chutkan denies Trump’s request to recuse herself in federal election subversion case40 articles · 29 independent sources

    4 left, 8 center, 6 right

24. October 2023

    Oct 14A proposed gag order on Trump in his federal election case is putting the judge in a tricky position17 articles · 12 independent sources

    2 left, 1 center, 2 right
25. Oct 14– 21Judge temporarily lifts narrow gag order on Trump in 2020 election interference case59 articles · 41 independent sources

    8 left, 12 center, 13 right
26. Oct 16– 18Trump has narrow gag order imposed on him by federal judge overseeing 2020 election subversion case106 articles · 63 independent sources

    18 left, 21 center, 13 right
27. Oct 25– 26ACLU argues Trump gag order in federal election subversion case is unconstitutional15 articles · 14 independent sources

    2 left, 3 center, 4 right
28. Oct 25– 26Federal prosecutors urge judge to reinstate Trump gag order26 articles · 23 independent sources

    6 left, 6 center, 2 right
29. Oct 30– Nov 3Federal appeals courts temporarily lifts Trump’s gag order41 articles · 23 independent sources

    8 left, 6 center, 6 right
30. Oct 30Judge reinstates gag order on Donald Trump in election interference case29 articles · 23 independent sources

    2 left, 11 center, 3 right
31. Oct 30Judge Chutkan reinstates Donald Trump's gag order10 articles · 8 independent sources

    5 left, 1 center, 2 right

32. November 2023

    Nov 20– 21An appeals court hears arguments about Trump's gag order in Jan. 6 case52 articles · 35 independent sources

    10 left, 11 center, 5 right

33. December 2023

    Dec 8Appeals court upholds gag order on Trump in Washington case but narrows restrictions on his speech38 articles · 33 independent sources

    11 left, 10 center, 5 right
34. Dec 13– 18Trump's lawyers ask full appeals court to review gag order restricting his speech in election case19 articles · 18 independent sources

    6 left, 5 center, 4 right
35. Dec 27Special counsel Jack Smith asks judge to not let Trump ‘inject politics’ into Jan. 6 case9 articles · 8 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 4 right

36. January 2024

    Jan 4Trump Wants Special Counsel Jack Smith Held in Contempt of Court in Jan. 6 Case21 articles · 21 independent sources

    4 left, 4 center, 6 right
37. Jan 8– 9Judge in Trump’s DC election case is targeted by fake emergency call in latest high-profile swatting16 articles · 13 independent sources

    4 left, 2 center, 2 right
38. Jan 23Appeals court rejects Trump’s bid to reconsider gag order in the election interference case15 articles · 15 independent sources

    3 left, 5 center, 2 right

39. April 2024

    Apr 30Judge holds Trump in contempt of court over gag violations7 articles · 7 independent sources

    2 left, 1 center, 4 right

40. June 2024

    Jun 1Is Trump still under a gag order after his conviction? Here's what we know9 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 0 right

41. August 2024

    Aug 2– 4Judge in Trump's federal election subversion case rejects defense effort to dismiss the prosecution27 articles · 20 independent sources

    0 left, 4 center, 0 right
42. Aug 2Judge Chutkan could jumpstart Trump election interference case now that it’s back in her court6 articles · 6 independent sources

    2 left, 1 center, 0 right
43. Aug 9Special counsel Jack Smith asks judge to delay next steps in Trump election interference case22 articles · 9 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 4 right
44. Aug 27– 28Trump election case sees new indictment134 articles · 67 independent sources

    9 left, 16 center, 12 right

45. September 2024

    Sep 5Trump election subversion case back in court as judge holds hearing that could set its path forward11 articles · 11 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
46. Sep 5Courtroom clash in Trump’s election interference case at a hearing that could set the path ahead19 articles · 15 independent sources

    7 left, 3 center, 0 right
47. Sep 23– 27Jack Smith's evidence update as judge sets deadline for Trump10 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 2 right
48. Sep 26– 27Prosecutors file sealed brief detailing allegations against Trump in election interference case19 articles · 15 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 2 right

49. October 2024

    Oct 1– 3Trump claims new Jack Smith filing is election interference. Here's how it became public.50 articles · 31 independent sources

    7 left, 7 center, 6 right
50. Oct 17– 18Judge unseals heavily redacted trove of evidence in Trump’s 2020 election interference case9 articles · 8 independent sources

    0 left, 5 center, 0 right
51. Oct 24– 25Trump's lawyers seek dismissal of federal election case, call special counsel illegally appointed7 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 4 right

52. November 2024

    Nov 6– 7Special counsel evaluating how to wind down two federal cases against Trump after presidential win29 articles · 21 independent sources

    3 left, 7 center, 2 right
53. Nov 6DOJ moving to wind down Trump criminal cases before he takes office10 articles · 5 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 2 right
54. Nov 7– 8Special counsel Jack Smith seeks pause in Trump's election interference criminal trial13 articles · 13 independent sources

    2 left, 4 center, 5 right
55. Nov 8– 9Judge cancels court deadlines in Trump's 2020 election case after his presidential win32 articles · 22 independent sources

    2 left, 3 center, 1 right
56. Nov 25– 26Prosecutor drops federal cases against Trump98 articles · 58 independent sources

    15 left, 17 center, 17 right

57. January 2025

    Jan 14Special Counsel's final report on Trump's presidential election interference case released60 articles · 31 independent sources

    8 left, 12 center, 7 right