Former President Donald Trump's months-long smear campaign against the validity of the 2020 election culminated in a deadly failed insurrection by pro-Trump extremists hoping to stop the joint congressional session certifying then-President-elect Joe Biden's victory.
The insurrectionists shattered windows, smeared excrement across the walls, ransacked offices, and threatened the lives of any lawmaker they saw as disloyal to then-President Trump.
But few faced more direct threats than the Capitol and D.C. Metro police officers, who stood as the last line of defense between lawmakers and the rioters trying to kill them.
One officer succumbed to a stroke the day after the riots and three Capitol Police officers have taken their own lives since, two of whom did so within a week after the riots. Other officers have described ongoing mental, emotional, and physical trauma.
Now, a group of Capitol Police officers have filed a civil suit against Trump for a litany of offenses including conspiracy, battery, and assault.
ALERT: Seven US Capitol Police officers file federal civil suit against Donald Trump, key Trump allies & high-profile Jan 6 defendants .. in connection with US Capitol Insurrection\n\nCiting series of Trump tweets/statements, alleging conspiracy, assault, battery, seeking damagespic.twitter.com/yV6gRR5wZC— Scott MacFarlane (@Scott MacFarlane) 1629991683
The suit also targets Trump's 2020 campaign, the domestic terrorist Proud Boys group, and a litany of other pro-Trump people and entities.
It reads in part:
"TRUMP made clear that because government authorities were not taking action to ensure his continuation in office, his supporters should take it upon themselves to do so."
The lawsuit lists numerous tweets from former President Trump before and after the election, especially the times he urged his supporters to descend upon D.C. for a "Save America" rally steps near the Capitol on January 6. Trump concluded that rally by urging his supporters to march "peacefully" to the Capitol and "fight."
The lawsuit notes Trump's exact words to the crowd that day:
"After this, we're going to walk down, and I'll be there with you. We're going to walk down. We're going to walk down any one [sic] you want, but I think right here. We're going to walk down to the Capitol, and we're going to cheer on our brave Senators, and Congressmen and women. We're probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them because you'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong."
They also pointed to Trump's public badgering of Vice President Mike Pence to unilaterally throw out electoral votes Trump lost—a constitutional power not granted to the Vice President.
People applauded the effort.
THIS. IS. PERFECT.https://twitter.com/MacFarlaneNews/status/1430914949551955973\u00a0\u2026— Laurie Milroy Hardman (@Laurie Milroy Hardman) 1629992034
More of this. I honestly think lawsuits are going to be one of the biggest ways we stop the lies. We need to hold people accountable for the damage they are causing.https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1430913077613109248\u00a0\u2026— PoliticsGirl (@PoliticsGirl) 1629994641
Can 82 million of us join the law suit?https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1430913077613109248\u00a0\u2026— Angel (Ask the Chief) (@Angel (Ask the Chief)) 1629998415
Yes! It's about time the good guys go on the offensive.https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1430913077613109248\u00a0\u2026— Wrath of Dawn (@Wrath of Dawn) 1629992742
YAAAAASSSS!! Those police officers deserved and deserve so much better.https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1430913077613109248\u00a0\u2026— Stephanie P\u00e9rez (@Stephanie P\u00e9rez) 1629991793
YES!! This is justified. The Capitol Police officers lives were put in danger.https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1430913077613109248\u00a0\u2026— AmyH (@AmyH) 1629997096
Some challenged Trump and his supporters to stand by their oft-repeated "back the blue" sentiment.
Let\u2019s see how far \u201cback the blue\u201d really goes.https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1430913077613109248\u00a0\u2026— Sir E Bob (@Sir E Bob) 1629998650
Soooo... back the blue?https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1430913077613109248\u00a0\u2026— justin (@justin) 1629991475
I\u2019m assuming all \u2018back the blue\u2019 Republicans will come out in support of this?https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1430913077613109248\u00a0\u2026— My Cat is a Democrat (@My Cat is a Democrat) 1629994618
We shall see.