DNC Sues Trump, WikiLeaks, and Russian Government Over Election Disruption
On Friday, the Democratic National Committee filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against WikiLeaks, the Russian, government, and the Trump campaign. This suit comes from the alleged harm done to the DNC during the 2016 presidential campaigns and election.
In their suit, the DNC claims Trump campaign officials conspired with Russia to shift the election to Donald Trump’s favor and hurt Hillary Clinton’s chances of winning. The suit argues this illegal interference of the election was done by hacking Democratic Party computer networks to publicize stolen materials and documents.
“During the 2016 presidential campaign, Russia launched an all-out assault on our democracy, and it found a willing and active partner in Donald Trump’s campaign,” DNC Chairman Tom Perez said.
Special counsel Robert Mueller has been investigating Trump’s coordination with Russia during the campaign for months, and various Senate investigators and prosecutors are still looking into the situation as well. However, last month House Intelligence Committee Republicans said there is no evidence of election interference by Russia.
“Rather than report these repeated messages and communications that Russia intended to interfere in the U.S. election, the Trump campaign and its agents gleefully welcomed Russia’s help,” the Democratic party argues in the suit.
Since Russia is not part of the United States, it may be challenging for Democrats to sue their government. But the DNC argues Russia is not immune from the lawsuit because the alleged hacks are considered trespassing on DNC private property.
There was “NO COLLUSION and NO OBSTRUCTION,” Trump tweeted Thursday night.
James Comey Memos just out and show clearly that there was NO COLLUSION and NO OBSTRUCTION. Also, he leaked classified information. WOW! Will the Witch Hunt continue?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 20, 2018
The lawsuit calls for compensation for damages caused by the hacks and acknowledgment by the defendants that they did influence the election. The suit does not name Trump as a defendant, but a number of his aides are.
Both Trump and his associates deny working with Russia through hacking.
