Donald Trump, January 12, 2021 at the White House. GERALD HERBERT / AP
Nearly $1 million fine. That’s the sum that former US President Donald Trump and his attorney were sentenced to on Thursday, January 19, for filing a “futile” lawsuit against Hillary Clinton alleging her attempted fraud in the 2016 presidential verdict Orders Mr. Trump and Alina Habba to pay jointly and severally $937,989.39 to cover the opposing party’s litigation costs.
Judge John Middlebrooks ruled that the Republican billionaire, who hopes to return to the White House in 2024, committed an “abuse of the courts” by filing a lawsuit “to dishonestly advance a political narrative.”
The motion, which Judge Middlebrooks denied last year, alleged that Clinton and others tried to convince the public that Trump’s campaign had Russian support.
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A “productive and experienced litigator”
The former president is seeking $70 million in damages from his former rival, whom he eventually beat in the November 2016 presidential election. That lawsuit “should never have been brought,” the judge said in his 45-page ruling, stating:
“Their inadequacy as a remedy was evident from the outset. No sane lawyer would have filed it. The statement of grounds of appeal, which serves a political purpose, contains no admissible legal claim. »
Justice Middlebrooks wrote that Donald Trump was a “prolific and resourceful litigator who repeatedly uses the courts to exact revenge on his political opponents.” He is the architect of a strategic diversion of court proceedings, and he cannot be considered a litigant who would blindly follow a lawyer’s advice. He was well aware of the impact of his actions. »
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