United States: Donald Trump could be prosecuted for the assault on the Capitol
Donald Trump speaks to his supporters just before the attack on the Capitol, January 6, 2021. © Evan Vucci/AP
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
His lawyers were pleading for immunity, but Donald Trump could be tried for his role in the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. A Washington judge ruled on Friday February 18 that the civil lawsuits against him were admissible.
He believes that the president's statements on the day of the attack were beyond the scope of his duties.
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In an order of 112 pages, the federal judge of the District of Columbia, Amit Mehta, sweeps away the defense of the former president.
While emphasizing the seriousness of this decision, this magistrate appointed eight years ago by Barack Obama refuses Donald Trump "absolute immunity".
He believes in particular that the speech of the former president on January 6 could be perceived as “
an implicit call for collective action
” from his supporters.
Donald Trump is the subject of three complaints which accuse him of responsibility
in this assault
.
Two are from Democratic members of the House of Representatives.
The third of two Capitol police officers present during the Jan. 6 attack.
All are claiming damages for the physical and moral injuries suffered that day.
Files classified defense secrets found
At the same time, a parliamentary commission, which has launched its own investigation, claims to have in the hands of documents that the former president would have
tried to conceal
.
On Friday, the federal national archives agency confirmed that files classified as defense secret had been found in fifteen boxes seized from Donald Trump's home in Florida, without specifying whether they relate to this case.
But this management of documents contrary to the law could, on its own, trigger legal proceedings against the former president.
►Also read: Donald Trump ordered to testify about his tax practices
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