Donald Trump’s legal team has filed a $100 million claim against the Justice Department, arguing that the FBI’s search of Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 was improper and damaged Trump’s reputation. The claim, filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, alleges “intrusion upon seclusion, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process,” and asserts that the search was part of a politically motivated effort by the Biden administration to undermine Trump’s reelection campaign.
The FBI’s search, which led to nearly three dozen criminal charges against Trump, was authorized by a federal judge after the Justice Department’s repeated attempts to retrieve classified documents Trump retained after leaving the White House. Trump contends that the search and subsequent charges have caused him significant financial and reputational harm, requiring him to spend “tens of millions of dollars” in legal defense.
Trump’s legal team criticizes Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray, claiming they acted negligently by not seeking Trump’s consent or notifying his lawyers before the search. The Justice Department has declined to comment on the matter.
Trump’s campaign argues that the claim underscores what they describe as political misconduct within the Biden administration, a theme Trump has emphasized in his campaign rhetoric. Despite the legal challenges, Trump continues to fight the criminal charges, although the case was recently dismissed by a judge on procedural grounds. The Justice Department is appealing the dismissal in an effort to reinstate the charges.
