Status: 03/25/2022 08:39 a.m
In the so-called Russia affair, ex-US President Trump has sued his former opponent Clinton for defamation. Democrats accused Trump of conspiring with Russia in the 2016 US election.
Former US President Donald Trump has sued his former opponent Hillary Clinton and other politicians from the Democratic Party for alleged defamation in connection with the so-called Russia affair. Clinton, the National Committee of the Democratic Party “and their supporters” alleged that he had colluded with Russia in the presidential election.
In the run-up to the 2016 US presidential election, they conspired “out of sheer malice to spin the false narrative” that Republican nominee Trump was working with Russia, according to the lawsuit filed in a federal court in Florida. To support their “scheme,” Clinton and her supporters “falsified evidence, defrauded law enforcement agencies” and “exploited their access to highly sensitive databases.” This is “so outrageous, anti-state and incendiary” that even the Watergate affair looks “pale” in comparison.
No evidence of illegal collusion
The so-called Russia affair was the subject of an extensive investigation by then-Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The question was whether Trump and his campaign team were working with Russia to influence the 2016 election.
The Mueller report cites several meetings between Trump associates and Russians, but the report failed to uncover evidence of Trump’s campaign team colluding with Russia. Trump therefore declared himself fully exonerated after the Mueller report was published.
Trump is now demanding a trial before a jury in Florida, where he filed the lawsuit. He has so far spent $24 million in legal fees, the Republican said, to defend himself against defamation. He is now demanding three times as much compensation – $ 72 million.
Also ex-FBI chief among the accused
In addition to Clinton, who ran against Trump in the 2016 presidential election, Clinton’s campaign manager at the time, John Podesta, and former FBI chief James Comey are also listed as accused, as well as the law firm Perkins Coie, which was involved in the Democratic election campaign, and the company Fusion GPS.
Former British secret agent Christopher Steele is also named, who prepared a dossier ahead of the 2016 presidential election that was said to contain compromising information about Trump. Trump has repeatedly called the Steele dossier “fake.” The New York Times newspaper also concluded that there was no supporting evidence for many of Steele’s claims.
With information from Arthur Landwehr, ARD Studio Washington
Because of Russia: Donald Trump is suing Hillary Clinton for $72 million in damages
Arthur Landwehr, ARD Washington, March 25, 2022 8:39 a.m