Donald Trump hits Hillary Clinton, DNC, and more with lawsuit over Russian collusion allegations
Former President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and others for purportedly conspiring to overthrow his presidency and cripple his presidential campaign.
What are the details?
The massive 108-page complaint accuses the former secretary of state and Democratic allies — including Clinton campaign aides, former FBI Director James Comey, the Democratic National Convention, and others — of engaging in an "unthinkable plot" to falsely accuse him of colluding with Russia during the 2016 presidential cycle and subsequent election.
A portion of the petition states, "In the run-up to the 2016 Presidential Election, Hillary Clinton and her cohorts orchestrated an unthinkable plot – one that shocks the conscience and is an affront to this nation’s democracy. Acting in concert, the Defendants maliciously conspired to weave a false narrative that their Republican opponent, Donald J. Trump, was colluding with a hostile foreign sovereignty.”
Others named in the suit include former DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former Clinton campaign head John Podesta, and former FBI officials Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, and Lisa Page.
The Trump suit alleges that Clinton and her Democratic cohorts crafted a falsified link between former president's campaign and Russia, which ultimately triggered an "unfounded federal investigation" as well as a "media frenzy."
"Under the guise of 'opposition research,' 'data analytics,' and other political stratagems, the Defendants nefariously sought to sway the public's trust," another portion of the lawsuit says. "They worked together with a single, self-serving purpose: to vilify Donald J. Trump."
The suit adds that Clinton and others are guilty of obstructing justice and more, including hacking into the former president's private communications.
“The actions taken in furtherance of their scheme — falsifying evidence, deceiving law enforcement, and exploiting access to highly-sensitive data sources — are so outrageous, subversive and incendiary that even the events of Watergate pale in comparison,” the complaint continues.
The suit adds, “When their gambit failed, and Donald J. Trump was elected, the Defendants’ efforts continued unabated, merely shifting their focus to undermining his presidential administration.”
The former president's suit claims that the defendants' conduct violates the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, making those named in the suit guilty of conspiracy, injurious falsehood, malicious prosecution, computer fraud and abuse, theft of trade secrets, and more.
Trump filed the suit on Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Fort Pierce. The former president's suit seeks at least $72 million in damages — a sum reported to be legal fees and other associated costs.
“The lawsuit filed today outlines the Defendants’ nefarious plot to vilify Donald J. Trump by spreading lies to weave a false narrative that he was colluding with Russia,” Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, told CNBC in an emailed statement on the suit. “For years, Hillary Clinton and her cohorts attempted to shield themselves from culpability by directing others to do their dirty work for them. This lawsuit seeks to hold all parties accountable for their heinous acts and uphold the principles of our sacred democracy.”