Trump's potential liability for Capitol riot faces major test in court

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

(CNN)A federal judge in Washington, DC, is set to consider, for the first time, whether former President Donald Trump is immune from liability related to his supporters attacking the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The major hearing on Monday is part of a trio of insurrection-related lawsuits seeking to hold Trump and others accountable at a time when the House select committee probing January 6 has aggressively investigated the political leaders who inspired the attack, and as the Justice Department is prosecuting more than 700 rioters for criminal offenses.

The court hearing, set to begin at 1 p.m. ET before Judge Amit Mehta of the DC District Court, will address key questions including whether Trump and Republican figures like Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama can shield themselves from legal fallout because of the First Amendment or their stature as elected officials.

It is the first major test of whether civil litigation is a viable route to holding Trump accountable for the violence toward Congress, after he was acquitted by the Senate in his second impeachment trial last February.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/10/politics/trump-civil-liability-insurrection-court-hearing/

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[JohnSJ]

1. Will they rule it is ok to yell fire in a crowded theater?

[exboyfil]

2. Is the person yelling a Republican?

Then yes.

[JohnSJ]

3. You are probably right

[secondwind]

4. Didn't TFG tell them to go there? That it would be "wild"?

He egged them on……..

[rso]

5. Trump

Even if the judge rules against Trump, Don the Con will the appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals and then to SCOTUS. It will take a while to get a definitive ruling on this.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

6. All will be swiftly and unceremoniously dismissed. Added to the heap of legal losses since

Insurrection Day.

[Sherman A1]

7. Most likely true

He never faces consequences for anything he does or doesn't do.

[CousinIT]

8. I'd be surprised if that turd was ever held accountable for anything. n/t

[not fooled]

9. That's his skill

Doing wrong, then escaping accountability. He's a feckin' genius at it.

[captain queeg]

10. It reminds me of a scientist who has already decided what the results of an expirement ought to be

And skews the results to support his preconceived idea. The rethugs will twist and turn to come up with something to exonerated their god-king.

[Bayard]

11. Department of Justice's position

"The Justice Department will be at the hearing to discuss its views toward the cases, in an important barometer of Attorney General Merrick Garland's legal approach to the insurrection.
So far, the DOJ said it will not defend Brooks' actions. According to a court filing this summer, the Justice Department argued that encouraging an attack, if proven in court, could not be considered part of Brooks' job as a public official, and the Trump rally was clearly a campaign event and not part of Brooks' official duties as a lawmaker."

I think that will tell us how Garland is going to handle the rest of this.