The US Justice Department has argued that former President Donald Trump can be sued in civil lawsuits for damages incurred during the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, rejecting his claims of absolute immunity. The Department clarified that the brief does not determine whether Trump should be held liable, but argued that a president cannot be absolutely immune for speech that incites violence. The lawsuits allege that Trump incited the violence by making false claims about the election results and encouraging his supporters to march on the Capitol.
