Lawsuit seeks DOJ records on Obama-era official's role in Russiagate
3 Min Read
A new lawsuit demands the US Department of Justice release records on Lisa Monaco’s role in suppressing the Durham appendix, a document challenging claims in the Russiagate investigation.
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Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco listens during a meeting of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force at the Department of Justice, Sept. 4, 2024, in Washington (AP)
The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Justice (DOJ), demanding the release of records related to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s alleged involvement in preventing the publication of a key document tied to the Russiagate investigation.
According to The Federalist, the lawsuit centers on Monaco’s potential role in blocking the release of the so-called Durham appendix, a declassified document said to undermine the narrative of alleged collusion between Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.
Earlier this year, CASA submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request asking the DOJ to disclose Monaco’s communications regarding the document. The group argued that the information is of public interest, especially as it challenges the basis of a years-long investigation that shaped US political discourse.
CASA demands full disclosure of Monaco’s communications
Despite the FOIA request, the DOJ has not yet issued a formal decision on whether it will release or withhold the records. The lawsuit states that the Department has failed to provide responsive documents, explain the scope of what may be withheld, or outline the appeal process available to CASA.
In response, CASA has called on the DOJ to produce all relevant records within approximately 10 days and requested compensation for legal fees and litigation costs incurred during the process.
Read more: US sanctions Iran, Russia for alleged interference in 2024 elections
Trump, CASA claim political targeting amid Russiagate fallout
The push for transparency comes amid renewed scrutiny of the DOJ’s handling of investigations into Trump. In October, The New York Times reported that Trump believes the Department owes him $230 million in compensation for federal probes he claims were politically motivated.
The move marked an unprecedented moment in US legal and political history: a sitting president seeking financial redress from the very department he oversees, for investigations conducted before and during his presidency.
Trump's legal team submitted two separate claims through the DOJ’s administrative process, often a precursor to formal lawsuits. The first, filed in late 2023, seeks damages related to the FBI and special counsel investigations into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential connections to Trump’s campaign.
The second claim, submitted in mid-2024, accuses the FBI of violating Trump’s privacy during its 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago for classified documents. It also alleges malicious prosecution by the DOJ for charging him with mishandling sensitive records after leaving office.
Russia has consistently denied all allegations of interference in US elections.
Read more: Trump faces growing judicial resistance across the US
