On Thursday, a federal judge ruled that former President Donald Trump and his lawyers are responsible for nearly $1 million in fines for a lawsuit Trump filed against Hillary Clinton, former senior Justice Department officials, and several other people, alleging they conspired against him in the 2016 election.
“This case should never have been brought. Its inadequacy as a legal claim was evident from the start,” US District Judge Donald Middlebrooks of the Southern District of Florida wrote. “No reasonable lawyer would have filed it. Intended for a political purpose, none of the counts of the amended complaint stated a cognizable legal claim.”
The request for sanctions made by one of the defendants in Trump’s case had already been approved by Middlebrooks. This order, which called for sanctions totaling more than $66,000, was suspended while Trump’s lawyers filed an appeal. A request from a number of additional defendants, including Clinton, led to the most recent decision, which mandated $937,989 in sanctions.
“I find that the pleadings here were abusive litigation tactics,” the judge wrote in the latest order. “The Complaint and Amended Complaint were drafted to advance a political narrative; not to address legal harm caused by any Defendant.”
“Its inadequacy as a legal claim was evident from the start. No reasonable lawyer would have filed it. Intended for a political purpose, none of the counts of the amended complaint stated a cognizable legal claim,” the judge wrote.
The judge listed a number of other unsuccessful lawsuits that Trump had filed in recent years while referring to his s “pattern of misusing the courts to serve political purposes.”
“He is the mastermind of strategic abuse of the judicial process, and he cannot be seen as a litigant blindly following the advice of a lawyer. He knew full well the impact of his actions.”
“Frivolous lawsuits should not be used as a vehicle for fundraising or fodder for rallies or social media,” Middlebrooks wrote.
“Mr. Trump is using the courts as a stage set for political theater and grievance. This behavior interferes with the ability of the judiciary to perform its constitutional duty.”
Alina Habba, a lawyer for Trump, and her law office were also a part of the order.
The entire amount ordered by Middlebrooks to pay the defendants’ legal fees and expenses is $937,989.39, and the two are equally and severally liable for it.
Trump, a Republican, ran for reelection in 2020 but lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Following his loss, he made numerous bogus assertions that his failure was the result of widespread voter fraud.
He announced his candidacy for president in 2024, perhaps setting up a showdown with Biden.
