Donald Trump can’t claim presidential immunity to avoid a lawsuit that accuses him of civil rights violations in his efforts to undermine the results of the 2020 election, a federal judge ruled Monday.
Trump had argued that he was “absolutely immune” from damages for actions within the “outer perimeter” of his official duties as president, and that his post-election activities in 2020 were part of an effort to protect and defend the Constitution.
But US District Judge Emmet Sullivan in Washington agreed with the challengers -- the NAACP and Michigan voters and advocates -- that Trump’s conduct was “purely political,” according to the ruling.
“If Former President Trump disrupted the certification of the electoral vote count, as Plaintiffs allege here, such actions would not constitute executive action in defense of the Constitution,” Sullivan said. “For these reasons, the Court concludes that Former President Trump is not immune from monetary damages.”
The judge granted a motion by the plaintiffs to file an amended complaint against Trump and the Republican National Committee, but has yet to determine whether they are liable for civil rights violations.
Trump attorney Jesse Binnall and RNC lawyer David Warrington, who also is also representing Trump in his lawsuit challenging a subpoena from the Jan. 6 congressional committee, didn’t immediately return requests for comment.
It’s the latest such ruling against Trump’s immunity claims on the DC federal court. In...
Welcome to Reality Check, NewsGuard’s nonpartisan newsletter that tracks the false claims and conspiracy theories that shape our world — and who’s behind them. Please support us by becoming a premi...