The DC Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that former President Donald Trump can be sued in civil lawsuits related to the January 6 Capitol riot.
The decision allows three lawsuits against Trump to proceed, brought by Capitol Police officers and Democratic House members.
The ruling distinguishes between campaign speech and official actions of the presidency, stating that not everything a president does or says while in office is protected from liability. (Trending: Greta Thunberg Caught on Video Going Full Anti-Semite)
#BREAKING: Appeals court rules Trump doesn’t have immunity from civil suits over Jan. 6 riots https://t.co/BWhUDrKrLh pic.twitter.com/RbURcmrXh2
— The Hill (@thehill) December 1, 2023
Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan wrote the president “does not spend every minute of every day exercising official responsibilities.”
“And when he acts outside the functions of his office, he does not continue to enjoy immunity. … When he acts in an unofficial, private capacity, he is subject to civil suits like any private citizen,” he continued.
The court’s decision “is flexible enough to accommodate rare cases where even speech made during a campaign event may be official,” wrote Judge Greg Katsas in his opinion.
“And it is cautious, in leaving open both the question whether the [Trump January 6] speech at issue is entitled to immunity and, if not, whether the First Amendment nonetheless protects it.”
Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump’s campaign, said the ruling was, “limited, narrow and procedural.”
“The facts fully show that on January 6 President Trump was acting on behalf of the American people, carrying out his duties as President of the United States,” Cheung said in a statement provided to CNN.
“This is the right result and an important step forward in holding former President Trump accountable for the insurrection on January 6,” Matt Kaiser, lawyer for Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
“Today’s ruling makes clear that those who endanger our democracy and the lives of those sworn to defend it will be held to account,” attorney Patrick Malone said in a statement following the opinion’s release on Friday. “Our clients look forward to pursuing their claims in court.”
The decision may also affect Trump’s arguments of immunity in his federal criminal case around the 2020 election.
Most Popular:
Trump Has Big Plans for Military Within the US
Trans Athletes Banned From Another Women’s Sport
Hollywood Legend Questions 2020 Election Results
