Trump can be held civilly liable in Jan. 6 riot, judges rule

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

Donald Trump can be held civilly liable for the actions of the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, an appeals court ruled Friday in a long-awaited decision that could clear the way for lawsuits seeking financial damages from the former president.

The unanimous decision by a federal appeals court in Washington is expected to be appealed and also offers insight into how the court could view Trump’s argument that presidential immunity also protects him from being charged criminally for his efforts to stay in power after the 2020 election.

Two U.S. Capitol police officers and about a dozen Democratic lawmakers sued Trump in 2021, saying he potentially instigated violence on Jan. 6 by telling supporters the election was stolen and urging them to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell.” The plaintiffs sued under a roughly 150-year-old law that bars the use of force, threats or intimidation to prevent government officials from carrying out their duties and allows anyone injured by such actions to collect damages. They argued Trump violated the statute — designed to combat Ku Klux Klan violence after the Civil War — by conspiring with members of far-right groups to keep lawmakers from confirming Joe Biden’s election win.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/12/01/trump-can-be-sued-jan-6-immunity/?location=alert

[Lunabell]

1. Wouldn't it be ironic

if Ashli Babbitt's mom filed a wrongful death lawsuit? I would love to see that!

I hope the rest of the injured and those who suffered PTSD file lawsuits. Talk about trickle down economics, lol. Someone isn't going to be a billionaire anymore.

[JoseBalow]

11. Or the cop who shot her!

[Lunabell]

15. yep

PTSD I would have it even if I rightfully defended nyself.

[JoseBalow]

19. For sure. It's never easy, in any context

"It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. You take away all he's got, and all he's ever gonna have."

[duhneece]

20. AND the LE who shot her

Easily, both the family of Ashli B AND the Law Enforcement who shot her experienced loss...and the LE who shot her could easily have suffered PTSD.

[nitpicked]

2. NPR radio in DC

Said that this will likely be appealed.

[Delphinus]

9. Of course

That's his modus operandi.

[WhiteTara]

3. can the population at large sign on to this?

He damaged me personally; along with every other citizen of this nation.

[Ponietz]

7. Class action!

[Marthe48]

4. Redress for the heroic officers who held the traitors at bay

I hope, I hope, I hope!

[FakeNoose]

5. Class action lawsuit by the Capitol Police officers to hold Chump civilly liable

[riversedge]

6. 'The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trump's claims of absolute immunity.'.............

Link to tweet

?s=20

..................Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

"In arguing that he is entitled to official-act immunity in the cases before us, President Trump does not dispute that he engaged in his alleged actions up to and on January 6 in his capacity as a candidate," they write. "But he thinks that does not matter. Rather, in his view, a President’s speech on matters of public concern is invariably an official function, and he was engaged in that function when he spoke at the January 6 rally and in the leadup to that day. We cannot accept that rationale."

The court notes, however, that their ruling does not prevent Trump from attempting to raise claims of immunity as the civil lawsuits move forward. Instead, they say that at this stage where Trump has not yet taken a position on the factual allegations leveled against him in each lawsuit, they are rejecting his blanket attempt to claim every action was taken based on his role as the president.

The ruling is related solely to the civil lawsuits that were brought against Trump in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack, and not special counsel Jack Smith's federal criminal case that is set for trial in March.



...

[republianmushroom]

8. I like this ruling.

Question, why did it take so long for them to come to this decision ?

[sop]

10. Since Trump was president on January 6, plaintiffs may have to sue the US Government.

I suspect Trump won't be on the hook for damages, the taxpayers will.

[edhopper]

14. The re3cent rulings in the Jean Carroll case say

he doesn't have blanket protection. He was not acting as President at this rally. It was more a campaign event. So it's not part of the Government.

[DallasNE]

12. Declaritory Judgement

This should be the model for 14th Amendment arguments against Trump being eligible to again hold office as President. It gets around the technicalities on standing, etc. and goes straight to the merits.

[Bayard]

13. I can just see the late night TV lawyers now.....

"Were you screwed over by donald trump? You may have a legal claim. Call this toll free number now!"

[rubbersole]

16. 1-800-SOR-BUTT

[demigoddess]

17. isn't trying to prevent the counting of votes in a presidential election essentially treason?

that is the way I see it.

[dalton99a]

18. Good.