Trump's Capitol Riot Speech Not Protected by First Amendment

0:00A federal judge just dropped a big ruling on one of the last open cases from the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. US District Judge Amit Mehta says President Trump ain't immune from civil lawsuits, claiming his rally speech incited the mob. That stopped the steel talking near the White House plausibly crossed into unprotected territory, not shielded by the First Amendment or presidential, duties. Earlier this week, Mehta laid out that Trump's ellipse speech and some social media posts that day open him up to liability, but official stuff like his Rose Garden comments during the chaos or chats with Justice Department folks stay protected. This builds on his own 2022 decision and an appeals court backing now under a tougher legal bar. Democratic lawmakers like Representative Benny Thompson and Capitol police officers who got hurt defending the place are the ones suing Trump along. With folks like Rudy Giuliani and some extremist group members, they argue he was acting more like a candidate than President that day.

1:01The ruling survived Trump's recent pardons wiping out over 1,500 criminal cases from the riot. Legal teams call it a, win for accountability, stressing no ones above the law, even the commander in chief. With appeals likely ahead and a trial possible in the same D.C. courthouse, this keeps the January 6th fall out alive, pushing for real answers on. That day's leadership. That wraps Canada News Today. Brought to you with AI, I'm Corey with the story.