Trump Fails to Get House Lawsuit Over Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Thrown Out
- Federal judge rejected Trump’s claim of presidential immunity
- Trump had argued that his Jan. 6 speech was an official act
Donald Trump speaks during a "Save America Rally" near the White House in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6.
Photographer: Eric Lee/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Donald Trump must face lawsuits accusing him of inciting the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection, a federal judge ruled, rejecting the former president’s immunity and free-speech arguments.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington issued a sweeping 112-page opinion on Friday denying Trump’s motions to dismiss three lawsuits. Mehta said Trump’s speech at a rally before the riot crossed the lines of both the First Amendment and the protections from civil liability presidents usually have while in office.