Trump to Sue DOJ for Mar-a-Lago Raid

Former President Donald Trump has announced plans to file a $100 million lawsuit against the Justice Department, claiming that the FBI's 2022 raid on his Mar-a-Lago resort was illegal and politically motivated. The complaint, submitted under the Federal Tort Claims Act, alleges "intrusion upon seclusion, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process." Trump's campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, emphasized that the lawsuit is part of Trump's ongoing battle against what he describes as "blatant Election Interference" by the Biden administration. The lawsuit seeks damages for the harm caused by the August 8, 2022, raid, which Trump argues was unconstitutional and politically charged. The memo claims that the raid, authorized by Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray, violated established protocols by failing to seek consent from Trump's attorneys and not utilizing non-enforcement means to retrieve documents. The filing suggests that the actions taken were not discretionary but rather a targeted effort to undermine Trump's political standing. Following the raid, special counsel Jack Smith was appointed to investigate Trump, leading to 37 felony counts against him, including willful retention of national defense information. Trump and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty. Recently, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed Smith's case against Trump, ruling that Smith's appointment was unlawful. Trump's attorney, Daniel Epstein, filed the notice on Monday, which requires the DOJ to respond within 180 days. If no resolution is reached, Trump intends to escalate the matter to federal court in Florida. Cheung reiterated that the raid was illegal and called for the dismissal of what he termed "Democrat Witch Hunts." The Washington Examiner has reached out to the DOJ for comment.