Donald Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revive his dismissed lawsuit against Hillary Clinton, former FBI Director James Comey and others over claims that they conspired to link his 2016 campaign to Russia. Yes, the election was ten years ago. No, the national group chat has not moved on. At this point 2016 is less a year than a subscription nobody can cancel.
Trump filed the case in 2022, alleging racketeering and other wrongdoing. U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks dismissed it and later imposed nearly $1 million in sanctions on Trump and attorney Alina Habba, describing the suit as a political manifesto that used the courts to pursue grievances rather than legally supported claims.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal and sanctions. Trump’s new petition asks the Supreme Court to review whether the filing deadline should have been extended because presidential duties prevented him from suing earlier. Asking for review does not mean the justices will accept the case, much less rule in his favor.
The underlying political controversy involved investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Special counsel Robert Mueller documented extensive Russian interference but did not establish a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia. Later reviews criticized aspects of the FBI investigation. Those findings are more complicated than either party’s preferred bumper sticker.
The Supreme Court receives thousands of petitions and hears only a small fraction. The immediate development is procedural: the request is now before the nation’s highest court. Clinton and the other respondents will have opportunities to answer under the court’s rules.
For now, the lawsuit remains dismissed and the sanctions remain in place. Trump is asking nine justices to reopen the door. Whether they do so is unknown. What is certain is that American politics has once again climbed into the attic, found the 2016 box and dumped every cable, accusation and expired campaign button onto the floor.
Sources and image information
Reuters, Oct. 9–10, 2026: https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-takes-suit-against-hillary-clinton-over-2016-election-supreme-court-2026-10-09/; Supreme Court of the United States: https://www.supremecourt.gov/
Photograph: 颐园居; CC BY-SA 4.0. Original file and rights record: Wikimedia Commons.
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