What the Lawsuit Alleges
Lawrence J. Ligas filed a pro se federal complaint in the Northern District of Illinois seeking $39.7 million. He names the United States, DOJ and FBI officials, and other federal actors, claiming they used law enforcement as a political tool after January 6. The suit says agents employed excessive force during a pre-dawn raid on December 1, 2021, then pursued retaliatory charges when Ligas refused to accept a plea that would have implicated President Trump. He says the criminal case was ultimately dismissed with prejudice in D.C., and now he wants accountability for the raid, the charges, and the reputational damage he says followed.
What Happened at the Chicago Raid
Ligas says FBI agents came to his Logan Square apartment around 6:00 a.m., pounded on his door, and used a battering ram to force entry while he was still waking up. He alleges about fifteen heavily armed, masked agents entered with guns aimed at him, and that one agent kept a finger on the trigger. Ligas claims the entry struck his forehead and caused whiplash. The complaint describes being handcuffed and intimidated even after he did not resist. Those events form the core of his Fourth Amendment and Bivens-style claims for excessive force and unreasonable search and seizure.
Charges, Plea Talks, and the D.C. Dismissal
According to the filing, Ligas attended January 6 as an independent election observer and did not breach barricades or engage in violence or property damage. He says prosecutors sought a plea that would have forced him to falsely blame President Trump and to say Trump asked him to be “front and center.” When Ligas declined and insisted on a trial, the DOJ allegedly added a new felony obstruction count as punishment for refusing to cooperate. Ligas points out a D.C. judge later dismissed his criminal case with prejudice, which he cites as judicial vindication.
Alleged Political Coordination and Media Harm
The complaint claims the raid and subsequent publicity were not isolated law enforcement acts but part of a coordinated effort involving Illinois political operatives. Ligas alleges an FBI agent informed an aide to Governor J.B. Pritzker in real time, which led to politically charged press releases and amplification by state actors and candidates. He says that social media posts and statements from both parties created a climate that branded him a dangerous figure, chilled lawyers from representing Jan. 6 defendants, and left him forced to proceed pro se in his civil suit.
Legal Theories and Remedies Sought
In the complaint Ligas invokes Bivens claims, the Federal Tort Claims Act, and multiple constitutional protections including the First, Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendments. He seeks damages for physical injuries, reputational harm, and punitive relief for what he calls willful and malicious conduct. The filing requests injunctive relief and money damages aimed at holding federal actors and alleged political collaborators accountable for weaponizing law enforcement and media narratives against an independent civic actor.
Why This Case Matters
Ligas frames his lawsuit as more than a personal grievance. He says it tests whether federal law enforcement was used to push a political narrative about January 6 and whether independents and election integrity advocates can be targeted. He calls on journalists, civil rights attorneys, and civic groups to examine the timeline, the raid, the added charge after plea talks, and alleged coordination between law enforcement and Illinois political figures. His message is clear: he will press the case until the government answers for what he calls retaliation and reputational destruction.
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Source: Red Right Updates!
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