Former President Donald Trump is preparing to file a $100 million lawsuit against the Department of Justice (DOJ) over the 2022 raid on his Mar-a-Lago residence.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, Trump's legal team is accusing Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray of engaging in "political persecution" against the former president.
The lawsuit, drafted by Trump's lawyer, Daniel Epstein, claims that the search of Trump's Florida home, which uncovered approximately 300 classified documents, was rooted in "intrusion upon seclusion, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process."
The legal action comes two years after the controversial raid that sparked outrage among Trump supporters and criticism from his political allies.
Trump's legal team argues that the DOJ and FBI's actions were inconsistent with established protocols for dealing with former presidents. The lawsuit contends that instead of conducting a raid, the government should have sought consent from Trump, notified his attorneys, and pursued cooperation through non-enforcement means.
Epstein, representing Trump in this matter, stated that the former president is standing up for himself and all Americans who believe in the rule of law and government accountability. The lawsuit seeks to highlight what Trump's team perceives as a departure from standard procedures in handling disputes over presidential records.
The legal action also points to Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, dismissing a case brought by special counsel Jack Smith against Trump as further evidence of alleged impropriety in the DOJ's actions.
The Department of Justice has consistently denied that politics played a role in the investigation of Trump's handling of classified documents. Special counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Garland to oversee the case, defended the indictment last summer after a grand jury handed it down.
Smith stated:
We have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone. Adhering to and applying the laws is what determines the outcome of an investigation. Nothing more, nothing less.
The DOJ's position has been that the investigation and subsequent actions were based solely on the application of the law, regardless of the subject's political status or affiliations.
This new lawsuit adds another layer to the complex legal situation surrounding Trump as he continues his bid for the 2024 presidential nomination. The former president has faced multiple indictments and legal challenges since leaving office, consistently framing them as politically motivated attacks.
The $100 million lawsuit against the DOJ could potentially impact the ongoing appeal by Smith's team following Judge Cannon's dismissal of the classified documents case. It also comes at a time when Trump is battling legal issues on multiple fronts, including cases related to the January 6th Capitol riot and election interference allegations.
Trump's planned $100 million lawsuit against the DOJ over the Mar-a-Lago raid represents a significant escalation in his legal counteroffensive. The suit alleges political persecution and improper conduct by top DOJ officials. It comes amid ongoing criminal cases against Trump and could impact how disputes over presidential records are handled in the future. The legal battle continues to unfold as Trump pursues another presidential run, with potential ramifications for both the legal and political landscapes.
