Justice Department Tries To Protect Trump From Jan. 6 Lawsuits
Key Facts
The Justice Department argued Trump was “acting in the scope of office or employment at the time of the incidents” on Jan. 6, and referenced a federal law that states if federal employees are sued for something done in their official capacity, the federal government is actually the defendant.
The Justice Department filed the request late Thursday night, the New York Times reported, a maneuver that could protect Trump from having to pay fines if he was found liable for the violence of the riot.
The change, if approved by a judge, would only apply to civil lawsuits made locally in Washington, D.C.
Big Number
8. That’s how many civil suits have been filed against Trump by lawmakers and police, though they’ve been consolidated into one case, Reuters reported. The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages and argued Trump directed the events of the riot through his speech prior to the storming of the Capitol.
Key Background
Civil lawsuits seeking to hold Trump liable for the events of Jan. 6, 2021 were filed by Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and a number of Capitol police officers who wanted Trump to be considered liable for the injuries they suffered during the riot. The cases have been held up in court, though, while U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta weighs whether Trump was acting in his official capacity as president, which could give him immunity under the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity. On Jan. 6, 2021, Trump supporters—fueled by Trump’s false claims of voter fraud—stormed the Capitol in protest of Congress certifying former President Joe Biden’s election as president. As a result of the insurrection, about 140 Capitol Police officers were injured, one rioter was shot, one officer died “after suffering multiple strokes hours after he was pepper sprayed by rioters” and four responding officers have since died by suicide, ABC News reported.
Surprising Fact
In his first administration, the Department of Justice tried a similar move to get a civil case filed against Trump by writer E. Jean Carroll dismissed, alleging he was acting in his official capacity when he denied knowing her. The Justice Department under Biden reversed its course on that, and Trump had to face the suit and was ordered to pay Carroll $83 million.
Tangent
On Friday, Trump separately said the violence and vandalism against Tesla dealerships, vehicles and charging stations was worse than what happened on Jan. 6. “When I looked at those showrooms burning and those cars—not one or two, like seven, eight, 10, burning, exploding all over the place. These are terrorists,” Trump said, according to The Washington Post, adding: “You didn’t have anything like that on January 6th.”
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