A federal judge in the District of Columbia has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Nelson Edward Dusenbery against Donald Trump, citing a complete failure to follow standard legal procedures or provide any evidence to support his claims.
The case, Dusenbery v. Trump, was tossed out by Judge Amir H. Ali on Thursday before it could even get off the ground.
According to the memorandum opinion issued by the court, Dusenbery attempted to initiate the legal action by sending an affidavit formatted as a letter to the Clerk of Court rather than filing a formal complaint.
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 3, a civil action cannot begin without an official complaint, a rule the court noted is essential for establishing jurisdiction.
READ: Trump Taps Former Deputy Surgeon General Erica Schwartz To Lead CDC Overhaul
Even if the court had accepted the letter as a complaint, Judge Ali ruled that it failed to meet the basic legal requirements for a lawsuit.
The judge noted that federal rules require a “short and plain statement” showing why the person suing is entitled to relief. Instead, Dusenbery’s filing relied on “vague and conclusory allegations.”
In his affidavit, Dusenbery claimed he was being “held as a political prisoner because [he] blew the whistle on the largest scandal . . . to hit our country EVER,” and accused the government of “still covering up this truth.”
Judge Ali was blunt in his assessment of these claims, describing them as “largely frivolous.” The opinion cited long-standing Supreme Court precedent holding that federal courts do not have the power to hear cases that are “so attenuated and unsubstantial as to be absolutely devoid of merit.”
While the judge granted Dusenbery’s request to proceed in forma pauperis—which allows a person to file without paying court fees—the victory was short-lived. The court dismissed the entire matter without prejudice, meaning the case is closed but not necessarily barred from being filed again if the legal defects are corrected.
No defendants were served and no further hearings are scheduled.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
