A number of people who were present at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th are seeking tens of millions in damages from the federal government.
Filed this week in Florida, the lawsuit targets the actions of the U.S. Capitol Police and Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department.
It alleges that law enforcement used excessive and “indiscriminate” force against protesters, resulting in physical and emotional injuries.
Officers allegedly fired rubber bullets, chemical spray, flashbangs, and other crowd-control measures in a reckless manner, affecting individuals who were not engaged in violence.
Attorneys argue that the response failed to distinguish between peaceful demonstrators and those involved in confrontations.
The lawsuit states:
This is a Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”) class action seeking money damages for injuries caused when the police indiscriminately launched explosive munitions, chemical agents, and impact projectiles into a peaceful crowd and physically assaulted members of the crowd that was assembled on the west side outdoor terrace and grounds of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.
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The actions of the police caused physical and emotional injuries, including but not limited to chemical burns, concussive trauma, emotional distress, and other damages to plaintiffs, class members and thousands of other protesters.
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The indiscriminate shooting of munitions into the crowd went on for well over an hour. The police admitted on video an hour after the shooting started that the munitions being shot into the crowd were “hitting innocent people.”
Among the lead plaintiffs is A.J. Fischer, an Air Force Veteran who was previously charged with assault before receiving a pardon from President Trump.
He is joined by Patrick and Marie Sullivan, who were present in the crowd and were struck by pepper balls and exposed to chemical agents, despite not facing any criminal charges.
The legal action seeks to establish a broader class of plaintiffs, potentially including dozens of others who were present on the Capitol’s West Front.
The case comes as the Trump administration has already reached settlements in other high-profile cases involving supporters.
These include a multimillion-dollar settlement with the estate of Ashli Babbitt, who was shot inside the Capitol, and a $1.25 million settlement with former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Trump DOJ Agrees to $5 Million Settlement to Family of Ashli Babbitt
The lawsuit has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul Byron in Florida and is expected to be heard in the coming weeks.
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