BREAKING NEWS: A Federal Appeals Court Panel Has UPHELD the $1 Million Punishment Against Trump and Habba for a ‘Frivolous’ Lawsuit Against Hillary Clinton and James Comey

A federal appeals court panel on Wednesday upheld a $1 million sanctions order against former President Donald Trump and his attorney Alina Habba, reaffirming a lower court’s conclusion that their lawsuit targeting Hillary Clinton, James Comey, and several former government officials was “frivolous” and brought in bad faith.

The ruling stems from Trump’s 2022 civil complaint, which accused Clinton, Comey, and more than a dozen others of orchestrating a sprawling conspiracy to damage his 2016 presidential campaign through the investigation into Russian election interference.

The original federal judge dismissed the case last year, calling it an improper attempt to misuse the legal system for political purposes.

In its decision, the three-judge appeals panel agreed, stating that Trump and Habba had “weaponized the courts” by filing claims that “no reasonable attorney would consider grounded in fact.” The judges said the hefty financial penalty was warranted to deter similar conduct.

“The judiciary cannot and will not be used as a political theater,” the panel wrote, emphasizing that the lawsuit was built on “unsupported accusations” and legal theories that “collapsed under even minimal scrutiny.”

The decision marks another legal setback for Trump, who is currently facing multiple civil and criminal challenges as he seeks to return to the White House. Habba, who has repeatedly defended the lawsuit as a legitimate effort to seek justice, has not yet commented on the appellate ruling.

Clinton and Comey have also declined public comment, but legal analysts say the ruling sends a strong message about the consequences of filing lawsuits rooted more in political messaging than in viable legal claims.

With the sanctions now upheld, Trump and Habba remain responsible for paying the full $1 million judgment, a penalty the court said was necessary to protect the integrity of the federal judiciary.