Trump Plans to Sue DOJ for $115 Million

Former President Donald Trump is preparing to sue the Justice Department and the FBI for $115 million, alleging "malicious political prosecution" and "abuse of process." Trump's attorney, Daniel Z. Epstein, claims that the prosecution has cost Trump tens of millions in legal fees and damaged his reputation. The lawsuit stems from an FBI search of Trump's Florida estate in August 2022, which uncovered classified documents. Epstein argues that the search violated established protocols for former presidents and cites a Trump social media post suggesting the government could have accessed the records at any time. The legal notice does not address the numerous requests from the National Archives and the Justice Department for Trump to return the documents, nor the subpoena issued in May 2022. Trump's legal team contends that the indictment resulting from the search was unlawful, although a U.S. District Judge dismissed the case last month. Trump's campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, framed the lawsuit as part of a broader fight against what he describes as a "weaponized Department of Justice." In the notice, Trump seeks $15 million for actual damages related to his legal costs and an additional $100 million in punitive damages. There is no set timeline for the Justice Department's response, but if no resolution is reached within six months, Trump could proceed with a lawsuit. The implications of this legal action remain uncertain, particularly if Trump were to win the presidency again in November and potentially influence the Justice Department's response.