In a legal blow to former President Donald Trump, a federal judge ruled on Thursday that lawsuits filed against him over his alleged role in the January 6 Capitol riot can proceed.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling allows lawsuits brought by several police officers and Democratic lawmakers who were present during the Capitol attack to move forward, despite Trump’s efforts to pause the litigation. Trump’s defense team had argued for a pause, citing his criminal case in Washington, D.C., but Judge Mehta rejected this request.
The judge ordered Trump to provide a detailed description of his immunity defense by May 1, indicating that a ruling on immunity is unlikely before the end of the Supreme Court’s term. Mehta dismissed Trump’s claims that proceeding with the civil trial could reveal his strategy for the criminal case, stating that the factual overlap between the cases does not warrant a delay.
This development adds to the legal challenges facing Trump, who is currently facing 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to a payment made to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election. Trump has consistently sought to shield himself from both criminal and civil proceedings using the defense of presidential immunity.
The ruling by Judge Mehta underscores the complexity of Trump’s legal predicament, as he simultaneously faces criminal charges and civil lawsuits stemming from his actions before and during the January 6 insurrection. With the Supreme Court set to hear arguments on Trump’s immunity claim next week, the outcome of these cases could have far-reaching implications for the former president’s legal future.
