Dozens of trucks and cars bearing Trump flags surrounded the Biden campaign bus October 30th as it tried to go north on I-35 from San Antonio to Austin. Trucks drove in front, behind and aside them.
Attorney John Paredes with Protect Democracy says there were at least 40 and says some have put the estimate as high as 100.
Four people, including former state senator Wendy Davis were on board the bus. "The word I would use is vehicular assault. They were abruptly braking, they were forcing the bus to go on the interstate at between 15 and 25 miles an hour. Swerving in front of and around and coming within inches of the bus."
He says those on the bus didn't know what the Trump supporters wanted and that was terrifying.
"I don't need to tell you that when you're driving up to within three or four inches of a 25 ton bus on the highway, there could be accidents. If the bus driver had lost his nerve, who knows how the might have swerved."
He says it could have been more dangerous had the driver stopped the bus.
Paredes says the bus driver, Tim Holloway, couldn't sleep for a month and has since stopped driving buses completely.
One of the lawsuits targets seven Trump supporters. The second targets two City of San Marcos officials.
Most jurisdictions those on the bus called for help responded and sent a police escort. Once the police got there, the Trump supporters drove at a more normal speed. "In San Marcos, they received notice a day before that trouble was to be expected. And they received notice 30 minutes before the bus was scheduled to arrive at Texas State, and they didn't send anyone." He says the swarming was at it's worse in San Marcos. That's when one of the drivers on the Trump train sideswiped a bus follow car.
He says political violence is not part of the Democratic process. "If unchecked, if the perpetrators are left unaccountable, it is death to the Democratic process. Because it silences unpopular views, and that is death to the right to dissent."
Here is the link to the lawsuit against the Trump supporters.
Here is the link to the lawsuit against the San Marcos officials.
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