A federal appeals court ruled that former President Donald Trump can be held civilly liable for the actions of the mob that rioted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The court concluded that Trump’s post-election efforts to overturn his defeat were done in his capacity as a presidential candidate, not as president.
The ruling may have major implications for some of Trump’s criminal cases and could be appealed to the Supreme Court. (Trending: Disgraced Democrat Sued For Sexual Assault)
“When a first-term President opts to seek a second term, his campaign to win re-election is not an official presidential act,” wrote Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta had ruled, “After careful consideration, the court concludes that, on the facts alleged, absolute immunity does not shield President Trump from suit.”
“Had that event been a political rather than an official event, and had the President immediately responded with an off-the-cuff statement to rally or console the Nation, I have little doubt that the response would have been official,” the judge wrote.
The decision allows the lawsuit to move forward while leaving key items unresolved, including whether Trump’s speech was protected by the First Amendment.
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