(The Center Square) – Former President Donald Trump has reportedly notified the Department of Justice that he intends to file a more than $100 million lawsuit against the DOJ for its raid of his Mar-a-Lago estate in August of 2022.
The notification of intention to sue is likely one step in a lengthy procedural process to sue the DOJ. Trump argues the federal raid was “political persecution.”
The lawsuit, which was first reported by Fox News, comes after years of legal battles, wins and losses for the former president, since that raid allegedly uncovered improperly held classified documents at Trump’s Florida residence.
“President Trump is continuing to fight against blatant Election Interference by Kamala Harris and Joe Biden’s weaponized Department of Justice,” Steven Cheung, Trump spokesman, told The Center Square in a statement. “As the complaint powerfully details, the raid on Mar-a-Lago was Illegal and Unconstitutional, as are all of the Democrat Witch Hunts that are now falling apart like the rotten house of cards that they are, and which should be immediately dismissed in order to bring unity back to our Nation.”
Special Counsel Jack Smith filed 37 federal charges against Trump after the raid alleging he held onto and mishandled classified documents after leaving office. Notably, President Joe Biden also allegedly held on to documents for years after leaving the White House as Vice President but was not charged.
Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed that case against Trump in July, arguing that the Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional.
As The Center Square previously reported, Judge Cannon ruled that Smith’s appointment violated the Appointments Clause of the Constitution and the separation of powers since the Biden administration funded the prosecution without appropriation from Congress which has the power of the purse.
Cannon ruled that Smith as special counsel was operating with the authority of an Attorney General yet without the Congressional approval.
Smith has appealed that ruling.
The U.S. Supreme Court also ruled earlier this year that Trump and other presidents do have some degree of immunity for acts conducted in an official capacity, but whether that immunity extends to Trump’s classified documents handling will likely have to be adjudicated and likely further delay the legal proceedings.
Notably, that raid helped propel Trump to victory in the Republican primary against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was close in the race until the raid helped cast Trump as a martyr of political persecution.
