(DailyChive.com) – Former President Donald Trump says he plans on suing the federal government for the 2022 raid by the FBI on his Mar-a-Lago estate, claiming its purpose was to interfere with the 2024 election.
On Monday, Aug. 19, reports emerged that the former president’s legal team may file a lawsuit against the federal government for $100 million, claiming they violated his privacy, abused the legal process, and participated in malicious prosecution.
The FBI raid took place on Aug. 8, 2022, at his Palm Beach, Florida, estate and was authorized by US Attorney General Merrick Garland. Judge Bruce Reinhart approved the search warrant in response to a criminal referral issued by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) related to an investigation of Trump over mishandling classified government documents following his exit from office. Special counsel Jack Smith was appointed by Garland and led that investigation. The former president was accused of violating the Espionage Act, destroying or hiding records to “impede, obstruct, to influence” government activity, and illegally removing and destroying federal records without cause.
The raid marked an unprecedented move by the federal government. Never before in American history has a former US president had their home raided by the FBI. The classified documents case was dismissed in July by Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled that the appointment of Smith as special counsel was unconstitutional.
Trump’s legal team argues that the goal of the raid was to throw a wrench in any future plans to run for president again in 2024. Attorney Daniel Epstein said that is what Trump “believes” the investigation was about, to interfere “with his ability to get elected” again. They also argue that the FBI disregarded proper protocol by carrying out the raid without first notifying the former president or his attorneys and that the Biden administration should have known Trump had presidential immunity.
In a statement released earlier this year, the FBI said they received authorization from the Biden administration to use “deadly force” if necessary during the raid, which they argue is standard procedure. The agents were also reportedly told to dress conspicuously to conceal their “law enforcement equipment.” Trump’s attorneys note that internal communications from the FBI showed that agents were questioning if everything they were doing was above board and if they had the necessary probable cause to go through with the operation.
Trump’s team is giving the federal government half a year to settle for $100 million or they will proceed with the lawsuit.
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