Two police officers sue Trump over Capitol riot

Two US Capitol police officers filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump on Tuesday, for the physical and emotional injuries they sustained duing Capitol riot attacks.

James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby filed the lawsuit in US district court for the District of Columbia seeking damages of at least $75,000 each.

“This is a complaint for damages by US Capitol Police officers for physical and emotional injuries caused by the defendant Donald Trump’s wrongful conduct inciting a riot on January 6, 2021, by his followers trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,” the lawsuit said.

On his part, Trump has denied any responsibility for the riot, which left five people dead, including a police officer. In addition, his office did not immediately return a call for comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit cites the former president’s behavior before and beyond the November presidential election, that Joe Biden won, including his hostile comments in speeches, on Twitter and during presidential debates.

Moreover, it indicated that Trump provoked violence throughout the 2020 presidential campaign, escalating his false assertion that the election was rigged after the election was called for Biden.

“During his 2016 campaign, and throughout his presidency, Trump had threatened violence towards his opponents, encouraged his followers to commit acts of violence, and condoned acts of violence by his followers, including white supremacists and far rightwing hate groups,” it said.

As a result, the two officers suffered physical and emotional injuries during the insurrection, according to the complaint.

Hemby suffered neck and back injuries and was sprayed with chemicals, and remains in physical therapy, whereas Blassingame also suffered head and back injuries during the attack and has since experienced depression.

“He is haunted by the memory of being attacked, and of the sensory impacts – the sights, sounds, smells and even tastes of the attack remain close to the surface,” the complaint states.

“He experiences guilt of being unable to help his colleagues who were simultaneously being attacked; and of surviving where other colleagues did not.”