Two Capitol Police officers who say they suffered “physical and emotional” injuries during the deadly Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot are suing former President Donald Trump for damages.
In a lawsuit filed in Washington federal court Tuesday, the officers blame Trump for having “inflamed, encouraged, incited, directed, and aided and abetted” rioters that stormed the Capitol, which has resulted in “physical and emotional injuries,” according to CNBC.
Officers James Blassingame, a 17-year veteran of the U.S. Capitol Police force, and 11-year veteran Sidney Hemby filed the complaint, CNBC reported. Both officers are “seeking more than $75,000 in compensatory damages,” according to the lawsuit, CNBC reported.
- “Blassingame claims he was slammed against a stone column, injuring his head and back” during the Capitol riot, according to the lawsuit, CNN reported.
- The complaint alleges that Blassingame “is haunted by the memory of being attacked, and of the sensory impacts — the sights, sounds, smells and even tastes of the attack remain close to the surface,” according to ABC News.
- The lawsuit says “Hemby ‘was crushed against the doors’ of the Capitol, was ‘sprayed with chemicals’ and bled from his face,” reported CNN.
- Rioters yelled “‘Fight for Trump’, ‘Stop the steal’ and various other slogans” while striking Hemby, accord to the complaint, ABC News reported.
Representatives of the former president have not responded to ABC, CNBC or CNN’s requests for comment.
Trump was impeached — and later acquitted — for “incitement of insurrection” of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. A poll afterward found that 57% of Americans blamed Trump for the actions of his supporters who stormed the Capitol, temporarily interrupting the electoral confirmation of President Joe Biden.