Former President Donald Trump‘s legal team appealed a judge’s ruling that rejected his previous efforts to dismiss several lawsuits accusing him of culpability for the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
The appeal was filed Friday afternoon to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit after a lower court sided with plaintiffs, allowing Trump to be sued for damages incurred during the riot in January 2021.
The former president’s filing comes nearly a month after U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta rejected Trump’s bid to dismiss three lawsuits based on claims of presidential immunity and freedom of speech, which allowed the cases to move toward a trial.
“It is reasonable to infer that the President would have understood the impact of his tweet, since he had told rally-goers earlier that, in effect, the Vice President was the last line of defense against a stolen election outcome,” ruled Mehta, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama.
FEDERAL JUDGE RULES JAN. 6 LAWSUITS AGAINST TRUMP CAN PROCEED
The three lawsuits against Trump were brought forth by Rep. Eric Swalwell, Jan. 6 Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, and Capitol Police officers. Plaintiffs alleged Trump and others threatened them during his attempt to challenge the results of the 2020 election.
The plaintiffs also blamed Trump and the other defendants for causing the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, Rep. Mo Brooks, the Oath Keepers, and Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio were also named in the lawsuits.
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The Washington Examiner contacted Trump’s attorney, Jesse Binnall, but did not receive a response.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
