A major court ruling clears the way for former President Donald Trump to face civil lawsuits over his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
A unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on Friday that Trump is not immune from civil lawsuits arising from his actions leading up to the Capitol riot. The ruling clears the way for lawsuits filed by Capitol Police officers and Democratic lawmakers who allege that Trump incited the violence that day.
The court found that Trump was acting in his personal capacity, as a presidential candidate, when he made a speech to his supporters on January 6 in which he urged them to “fight like hell” to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The court said that Trump’s speech was not an official act of the president and that he is therefore not immune from civil liability for any damages that resulted from the violence.
The ruling is a major setback for Trump, who has sought to avoid legal accountability for his role in the Capitol riot. Trump has argued that he is immune from civil lawsuits because he was acting as president at the time. However, the court rejected this argument, finding that Trump’s actions were not within the scope of his presidential duties.
The ruling is also a victory for the plaintiffs in the lawsuits, who have been seeking to hold Trump accountable for his actions. The plaintiffs allege that Trump’s speech incited the violence that day and that they suffered physical and emotional injuries as a result.
The ruling is likely to have a significant impact on the ongoing legal and political fallout from the Capitol riot. The lawsuits against Trump could potentially lead to a financial judgment against him, and they could also damage his reputation and make it more difficult for him to run for president again.
The ruling is also likely to have a broader impact on the law of presidential immunity. The court’s decision narrows the scope of presidential immunity and makes it clear that presidents are not immune from civil liability for their personal actions. This could have implications for future lawsuits against presidents.
