Two U.S. Capitol Police officers who were injured during the January insurrection on the U.S. Capitol have filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, claiming that he was responsible for the injuries they suffered as a result.
James Blassingame, a 17-year veteran of the force, and Sidney Hemby, an 11-year veteran, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking damages of at least $75,000 each.
Veterans of the force, with 28 years of combined years, the two officers claim that Trump allegedly "inflamed, encouraged, incited (and) directed" the deadly mob that stormed the Capitol.
“This is a complaint for damages by U.S. Capitol Police officers for physical and emotional injuries caused by the defendant Donald Trump’s wrongful conduct inciting a riot on January 6, 2021, by his followers trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,” the lawsuit said.
Hemby "was crushed against the doors" of the Capitol, was "sprayed with chemicals" and bled from his face, the lawsuit says. Blassingame claims he was slammed against a stone column, injuring his head and back.
“During his 2016 campaign, and throughout his presidency, Trump had threatened violence towards his opponents, encouraged his followers to commit acts of violence, and condoned acts of violence by his followers, including white supremacists and far rightwing hate groups,” it said.
The lawsuit also cited Trump’s rallying cry to supporters to come to the Capitol on Jan. 6 and “Stop The Steal” in the months after the election, including a tweet on Dec. 19: “Big protest on D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild.”
“Trump’s December 19th tweet about the January 6th rally was taken by many of his supporters as a literal call to arms,” the lawsuit said.