Several months have passed since the tragic events that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, but the fallout from the event continues to make headlines.
According to The Hill, on Wednesday it was reported that former President Donald Trump has been made the target of a lawsuit by two Capitol Hill police officers for physical and emotional injuries they claim to have suffered as a result of responding to the violent riots that took place on that day.
Why sue Trump?
The officers involved in the legal action, James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby, claim that Trump was ultimately responsible for the dangerous events, adding that they believe it was the former president’s rhetoric leading up to and just prior to the Capitol riot that sparked what turned out to be a deadly situation.
As the text of the lawsuit indicated, the two officers made crystal clear that they believe the tragic events were inspired by Trump, pulling zero punches as they leveled multiple accusations against the 45ht president.
“Both United States Capitol Police Officers reported for duty on January 6, 2021, without any suspicion that they would soon become the targets of Trump’s followers,” the lawsuit stated.
“The insurrectionist mob, which Trump had inflamed, encouraged, incited, directed, and aided and abetted, forced its way over and past the plaintiffs and their fellow officers, pursuing and attacking them inside and outside the United States Capitol, and causing the injuries.”
The lawsuit marks the first attempt to sue the former president by local law enforcement officers who were on the scene that day.
“Attacked relentlessly”
Included in Blassingame and Hemby’s lawsuit were detailed accounts of the physical injuries they claim to have suffered from responding to the riot, including Hemby’s recounting of being “attacked relentlessly” during his attempts to protect the Capitol. He added that at some point during the struggle, he was “bleeding from a cut located less than an inch from his eye.”
The lawsuit also detailed Blassingame’s movements, indicating that the officer was called to guard the inside of the Capitol building once the violent mob of Trump supporters grew in size outside of the building.
The legal filing added that “The threats and attacks on Officer Blassingame seemed endless.”
According to the Washington Post, Blassingame is a 17-year veteran of the Capitol Hill police force. Hemby has logged 11 years on the force. The two officers are reportedly seeking at least $75,000 in compensatory damages and an unknown amount for punitive damages.
Only time will tell if the two officers are successful in their legal proceedings against Trump, but if they are, it’ll undoubtedly open up the possibility for dozens, if not more, lawsuits in the near future.
The post Capitol Police officers sue Trump for emotional and physical injuries from Jan. 6 riot first appeared on Conservative Institute.
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