Trump launches New Lawsuit
Big news on the legal front: Former President Donald Trump is gearing up for a major legal battle against the U.S. Department of Justice, seeking a whopping $100 million in damages over the 2022 FBI raid on his Mar-a-Lago property. This lawsuit is setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation, with Trump’s legal team arguing that the raid was not just unlawful but a politically motivated act of persecution. Let’s break down what’s going on.
Trump’s memo, obtained by Fox News, claims that the government’s actions during the Mar-a-Lago raid on August 8, 2022, were “tortious conduct,” meaning wrongful acts that caused harm. The raid was part of a federal investigation into whether Trump improperly retained classified documents after leaving office.
Special Counsel Jack Smith was later appointed to investigate, which led to 37 felony charges against Trump, including willful retention of national defense information and obstruction of justice. Trump, however, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case against Trump, ruling that Special Counsel Smith was unlawfully appointed, citing the Appointments Clause in the Constitution. This ruling set the stage for Trump’s counterattack, as his attorney, Daniel Epstein, filed a notice to sue the Justice Department.
Epstein argues that the raid was conducted with “clear intent to engage in political persecution” rather than advancing legitimate law enforcement practices. He claims the decisions made by Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray were inconsistent with established protocols, which typically require consent from the investigative target, notification to their attorneys, and coordination with the local U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to Epstein, the Justice Department’s actions amounted to an invasion of privacy under Florida law, particularly the legal principle of “intrusion upon seclusion.” This refers to an intentional invasion of someone’s private space in a manner that would be considered highly offensive by a reasonable person. Epstein asserts that Trump had a reasonable expectation of privacy at Mar-a-Lago and that the FBI’s failure to follow standard procedures during the raid constitutes a serious violation.
Additionally, Epstein is accusing the Justice Department of “malicious prosecution,” arguing that the criminal indictment against Trump was baseless and politically motivated. He also claims that the entire process was an “abuse of process,” designed to inflict harm on Trump, both financially and politically.
To top it off, Epstein is not only seeking $15 million in compensation for Trump’s legal costs but is also demanding $100 million in punitive damages. These are damages intended to punish the defendants—in this case, the U.S. government—for their alleged misconduct and to deter similar actions in the future.
The Justice Department has declined to comment on the pending lawsuit, but Epstein has made it clear that he believes this case is about more than just Trump. He argues that it’s about standing up against what he sees as governmental overreach and protecting the rights of all Americans.