The FBI executed a search warrant in 2022, raiding Mar-a-Lago as part of an investigation into the handling of presidential documents. President Donald Trump (R) was reportedly at Trump Tower in New York when the raid was conducted. Since then, he has denounced the raid, calling it unconstitutional. After the documents case was dismissed last month, President Trump and his legal team plan to sue the Justice Department over the Mar-a-Lago raid.
President Trump plans to sue the Department of Justice for $100 million over the raid. According to a memo from the president's lawyers, they argue that the raid exhibited a "clear intent to engage in political persecution." Moreover, they consider the raid "tortious conduct by the United States against President Trump."
After the raid, hundreds of pages of classified documents were taken from the premises, and Special Counsel Jack Smith was appointed to investigate. Special Counsel Smith ended up charging President Trump with 37 felony counts, which included the willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and false statements. President Trump subsequently pleaded not guilty to the counts, a judge dismissed the case, arguing that Special Counsel Smith was unlawfully appointed and funded, noting the Appointments Clause in the Constitution.
Daniel Epstein, President Trump's attorney, filed a notice to sue the Department of Justice, and it has 180 days from the date of receipt to respond to the notice and reach a resolution. If a resolution is not reached, the president's case will be directed to federal court in the Southern District of Florida.
Speaking to Fox Business' Lydia Hu, Epstein commented that "what President Trump is doing here is not just standing up for himself - he is standing up for all Americans who believe in the rule of law and believe that you should hold the government accountable when it wrongs you."
