CAPITOL POLICE OFFICERS SUE TRUMP, ALLIES OVER JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION

WASHINGTON: US Capitol police officers who were attacked and beaten during the riot filed a lawsuit on Thursday against former president Donald Trump, his allies and members of far-right extremist groups.

The officers accused them of intentionally sending a violent mob on January 6 to disrupt the congressional certification of the election.

The suit in a federal court in Washington alleges Trump “worked with white supremacists, violent extremist groups, and campaign supporters to violate the Ku Klux Klan Act, and commit acts of domestic terrorism in an unlawful effort to stay in power”.

The suit was filed on behalf of the seven officers by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. It names the former president, the Trump campaign, Trump ally Roger Stone and members of the extremist groups the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who were present at the Capitol and in Washington on January 6.

Two other similar cases have been filed in recent months by Democratic members of Congress. The suits allege the actions of Trump and his allies led to the violence siege of the Capitol that injured dozens of police officers, halted the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s electoral victory and sent lawmakers running for their lives.

A House committee has started in earnest to investigate what happened that day, sending out requests on Wednesday for documents from intelligence, law enforcement and other government agencies.