DEMOCRATS FILE SUIT ALLEGING RACKETEERING AND CONSPIRACY IN 2016 ELECTION

By Miriam Raftery

April 20, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – The Democratic National Committee has filed a lawsuit against the Trump campaign, Russia, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and associates of President Donald Trump. The suit alleges racketeering, computer hacking, fraud and conspiracy to win the 2016 presidential election and harm Democrats.

The suit provides evidence of how the Trumps allegedly used their family business to curry favor with Russians as well as how Russia allegedly shared findings of a cyber-attack on Democratic National Committee headquarters with the Trump campaign. The evidence includes numerous written communications between Trump advisors and Russians, the Washington Post reports.

The suit, filed on Friday in a New York federal court, also names Trump advisors who participated in a June 2016 meeting at Trump tower with  Russians, including former Trump campaign chairman Paul. Manafort, campaign advisor George Papadopoulous and Trump advisor Roger Stone, among others. Manafort has been indicted on multiple counts including conspiracy against the U.S., money laundering, and failing to register as a foreign agent. He could face life in prison if convicted.

Last year, a declassified U.S. Intelligence report concluded that Russian president Vladimir Putin directly ordered an influence campaign to discredit Hilary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, and help put Trump in the White House, CNN reported.  Papadopoulous has pled guilty to charges that he made false statements to the FBI about his communications with Russians.

Trump has repeatedly insisted there was “no collusion” between his campaign and Russia.

The legal action comes amid Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation into Trump-Russia ties.