Trump Still Faces Civil Lawsuits Even If Criminal Cases Go Away

President-elect Donald Trump will bring legal baggage to the White House in January, even if he succeeds in pausing or getting rid of the four federal and state criminal indictments against him.

Trump’s reelection is expected to end the two federal cases, given the Justice Department’s policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. His defense lawyers are arguing that the same immunity principles should apply to the two state prosecutions.

But Trump still faces at least a dozen civil lawsuits, and the presidency won’t provide any special protections or way out. The US Supreme Court has said that officeholders aren’t immune from ...