Capitol cops sue Trump for inciting violent assault on Congress

By Colleen Long and Michael Balsamo - The Associated Press

Capitol Police agents who were attacked and beaten during the riots on January 6, 2021 denounced former President Donald Trump, several of his political allies and members of far-right groups, accusing them of

sending a violent mob

to interrupt the process of confirming the results of the presidential elections.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington alleges that

Trump "worked with white supremacists

, violent extremist groups and supporters of the campaign to violate the Civil Rights Act [Ku Klux Klan Act], and commit acts of domestic terrorism in an illegal effort. to stay in power. "

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Two other similar cases have been filed in recent months by Democratic congressmen.

The lawsuits allege that the actions of Trump and his allies led to the violent assault on the Capitol, which injured dozens of police officers, halted the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's election victory and caused lawmakers to seek refuge to save their lives when the mob stormed the headquarters of Congress with bats, clubs and other weapons.

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A committee of the House of Representatives is investigating what happened that day.

On Wednesday he sent requests for documents to intelligence services, law enforcement agencies and other government agencies.

His most important request so far has been to the National Archives for information on Trump and his team.

Trump accused the committee

of violating long-standing "legal principles of privilege" but had no comment on Thursday's lawsuit.

"Executive privilege will be defended, not only on behalf of my Administration and the patriots who worked alongside me, but on behalf of the office of the president and the future of our nation," Trump said.

Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021.REUTERS / Shannon Stapleton

The lawsuit points to several people who have been charged with federal crimes related to the riots.

They are accused of having "conspired to use force, intimidation and threats to prevent Joe Biden and [Vice President] Kamala Harris from taking office, to prevent Congress from counting electoral votes, and to prevent the Capitol Police would fulfill their legal duties. "

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The document

describes the injuries that officers sustained

while trying to prevent crowds from entering the Capitol.

One of the police officers, Jason DeRoche, was beaten and sprayed with tear gas and bear spray until his eyes swelled.

Another agent, Governor Latson, was inside the Senate when the mob broke the doors and beat him while shouting racist insults at him, according to the lawsuit.

"We join with the Capitol Police to uphold the law and protect the Capitol community," the group of officers said in a statement issued by their attorneys. 

“On January 6 we tried to prevent people from breaking the law and destroying our democracy.

Since then,

our work and that of our colleagues has become extremely more dangerous

.

We want to do what we can to make sure that the people who did this are held accountable and that no one can do it again, "they add.

The documents requested by the House committee this week are just the beginning of what is expected to be

a Congressional investigation

 into how a mob of Trump supporters was able to infiltrate Capitol Hill and disrupt Democrat Joe Biden's certification of the presidential victory. , inflicting the largest assault on Congress in two centuries.

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Committee members are also considering asking telecommunications companies to

keep the phone records

of various people, including members of Congress, to try to determine who knew what about the unfolding unrest and since when. 

With chants of "hang Mike Pence," violent Trump supporters told the then vice president and members of Congress to run for their lives, causing more than a million dollars in damage and injuring dozens of police officers.

The suit asks the White House for records from the National Archives along with material from the departments of Defense, Justice, Homeland Security and the Interior, as well as the FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

So far, the committee has listened to police officers who were on Capitol Hill on January 6.

In emotional testimony, those officers

spoke of how scared and frustrated

they were by the inability of law enforcement leaders to anticipate violence and understand the impact of the president's words inciting the revolt.