Capitol Police officers sue Trump, allies over insurrection

WASHINGTON: The United States Capitol Police officers who were attacked and beaten during the Capitol riot filed a lawsuit Thursday against former President Donald Trump, his allies and members of far-right extremist groups, accusing them of intentionally sending a violent mob on January 6 to disrupt the congressional certification of the election.

The suit, filed on behalf of seven officers, in federal court in Washington alleges Trump "worked with white supremacists, violent extremist groups, and campaign supporters to violate the

Ku Klux Klan Act

, and commit acts of domestic terrorism in an unlawful effort to stay in power".

The suit, filed by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, names the former president, the Trump campaign, Trump ally Roger Stone and members of the extremist groups, the

Proud Boys and Oath Keepers

, who were present at the Capitol and in Washington on Jan. 6.

Two other similar cases have been filed in recent months by Democratic members of the Congress. The suits allege the actions of Trump and his allies led to the violent siege of the Capitol that injured dozens of police officers, halted the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's electoral victory and sent lawmakers running for their lives as rioters stormed into the seat of American democracy wielding bats, poles and other weapons.

A House committee has started in earnest to investigate what happened that day, sending out requests Wednesday for documents from intelligence, law enforcement and other government agencies. Their largest request so far was made to the

National Archive

for information on Trump and his former team.