D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Rules Trump Can Face Civil Lawsuits Over January 6th Incitement of Violence

A three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday that former President Donald Trump can face civil lawsuits over claims that he incited violence on January 6th. The ruling is a victory for plaintiffs in three separate cases seeking to hold Trump civilly accountable for egging on an angry mob to storm the Capitol.

The panel limited their ruling somewhat, allowing Trump to raise his argument that he was acting as president on January 6th, and not as a private citizen, later on in the case. This argument is based on the immunity which protects presidents from civil liability.

The lawsuits stem from an interview in which Trump criticized former President Donald Trump for failing to deliver on numerous policy promises during his term in the White House, including frequent pledges to replace the health care law. During the interview, Trump said, “We are going to replace and supersede with a better plan.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently echoed Trump’s sentiment, asserting that his plan would have “more transparency, more consumer choice, more affordable options, less red tape, less bureaucracy weighing everybody down.” However, he declined to provide details about how his plan would “supersede” Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act, adding that his campaign would most likely roll out a proposal in the spring.

The appellate court’s ruling on Friday allows the civil lawsuits against Trump to move forward, while permitting Trump to re-raise immunity defenses down the line. It remains to be seen how the cases will play out and what impact they will have on the future of health care policy in the United States.