An appeals court ruled Friday that former President Donald Trump can be sued for his role in inciting the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In a short release announcing the decision, Judges Sri Srinivasan, Greg Katsas, and Judith Rogers affirmed the order of a lower district court that denied a motion to dismiss litigation against Trump.
The judges found that Trump's role as president at the time does not make him immune from being sued over the issue, because he was not acting in his official capacity. According to attorney Brad Moss, however, the ruling is narrow and it could later be reversed on the merits.
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The suit in question was brought by Capitol Police officers who were injured in the attack, and Democratic lawmakers whose lives were endangered. The Justice Department has also argued that Trump is not immune from being sued.
This civil action is taking place at the same time that the former president is facing criminal prosecution for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Two such criminal cases are pending, with one being brought in D.C. by special counsel Jack Smith, and the other being a racketeering case brought in Georgia by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
