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Trump Not Immune to Capitol Police Lawsuits, Appeals Court Rules

The court rejected the former president's claim that his actions were protected as official functions, paving the way for civil damages claims against him.

Trump Pay Critics Lawsuits
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Overview

  • Federal appeals court rules former President Donald Trump is not immune from lawsuits brought by Capitol police officers regarding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
  • The court rejected Trump's argument that his alleged actions constituted speech on matters of public concern and were an official function.
  • The order comes after three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled against Trump in a case brought by Capitol Police Officers James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby and lawmakers.
  • The officers in the suit sought an estimated $75,000 each in damages, claiming Trump's false claims regarding election fraud resulted in a deadly breach of their workplace.
  • The court concluded that a different lawsuit first brought by Capitol Police Officer Conrad Smith and seven colleagues in August 2021 was essentially indistinguishable from Blassingame’s case.