Trump Claims Presidential Immunity From Capitol Riot Lawsuit
- Former president claims his Jan. 6 speech was an official act
- Rudy Giuliani also asks court to toss suit by House Democrats
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally near the White House in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.
Photographer: Eric Lee/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Former President Donald Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani asked a federal judge in Washington to throw out a lawsuit by House Democrats who accuse them of helping to incite the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection.
Both men spoke at the pro-Trump rally that preceded the riot. In court filings late Wednesday, Trump argued his speech was a presidential act for which he can’t be held legally liable, while Giuliani contended that the suit failed to show that he and Trump planned or coordinated the insurrection.