US Appeals Court Rules Trump Must Face Lawsuits Over US Capitol Attack, No Presidential Immunity

A U.S. appeals court has ruled that former President Donald Trump must face civil lawsuits over his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by his supporters. The court rejected Trump's claim of immunity, stating that he was acting in his personal capacity as a presidential candidate when he urged his supporters to march to the Capitol. This decision paves the way for Trump to be sued by U.S. Capitol police officers and Democratic lawmakers seeking to hold him responsible for the violence. The ruling focused solely on whether Trump could be sued and did not address the merits of the cases themselves. Trump's spokesperson called the ruling "limited, narrow, and procedural," while the plaintiffs' lawyer hailed it as a step towards accountability for those who endanger democracy.