Key takeaways:
- Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks of the Southern District of Florida ordered former President Donald Trump and one of his attorneys to pay nearly $1 million in sanctions for filing a lawsuit against Trump’s 2016 rival Hillary Clinton and others.
- The judge said the lawsuit should never have been filed and was intended for a political purpose.
- The sanctions are intended to deter similar behavior in the future. Trump’s attorney has said he will appeal the ruling.
A federal judge in Florida has ordered former President Donald Trump and one of his attorneys to pay nearly $1 million in sanctions for filing a lawsuit against Trump’s 2016 rival Hillary Clinton and others.
Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks of the Southern District of Florida said in a 46-page order that Trump, lead attorney Alina Habba and Habba Madaio & Associates were jointly liable for the $937,989 in the suit, which he dismissed in September.
The judge said the lawsuit should never have been filed and was intended for a political purpose. He also accused Trump of a “pattern of abuse of the judicial system” in an effort to “harass and intimidate his perceived political adversaries.”
The lawsuit was filed in November 2020 and alleged that Clinton and others conspired to interfere with the 2016 election. It sought $2.75 billion in damages.
The sanctions are intended to deter similar behavior in the future. Trump’s attorney has said he will appeal the ruling.
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