A hearse carrying the remains of Metropolitan Police officer Brian Sicknick drives past police officers saluting after a funeral service at the U.S. Capitol February 3, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Image Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty
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Image Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty
A hearse carrying the remains of Metropolitan Police officer Brian Sicknick drives past police officers saluting after a funeral service at the U.S. Capitol February 3, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Image Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty
The longtime partner of a US congressional police officer who died in the wake of the January 6 uprising has sued former President Donald Trump and two rioters for wrongful murder.
Sandra Garza, who is representing Brian Sicknick’s estate, claimed her partner’s death was a “direct and foreseeable consequence” of Trump’s words that day. She also blamed Julian Elie Khater and George Pierre Tanios, two men accused of attacking Sicknick with chemical spray during the breach.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in US District Court in Washington, comes a day before the two-year anniversary of the attack. The lawsuit seeks at least $10 million in damages from each defendant.
Sicknick suffered two strokes shortly after the attack
Sicknick was part of the police team guarding the perimeter of the U.S. Capitol on the day Trump supporters tried to stop lawmakers from certifying President Biden’s victory in the Electoral College.
According to the lawsuit, Sicknick was attacked with a chemical spray during the confrontation and collapsed later that night. He suffered two strokes and died the next day. Sicknick is 42 years old.
Although Washington DC’s chief medical examiner, Dr. Francisco Diaz, ruled that Sicknick died of “natural causes”, he further stated that the events of January 6 “played a role”. something in his condition,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit argues that Trump’s words intentionally incite violence
The lawsuit claims that Trump instigated Khater and Tanios to attack, adding that the former president’s “words and conduct” fueled the violence that led to Sicknick’s injuries and eventual death. ta.
“Trump intentionally incited, directed, and encouraged a mob to attack the United States Capitol and attack those who oppose them,” the complaint reads.
It also accused Trump of failing to prevent the violation and, at one point, of sending tweets with “the clear intention of inciting further mayhem.”
Trump has yet to face criminal charges for his role in the attack
In September, Khater and Tanios both begged guilty Attack law enforcement with pepper spray when breaking the law. Both are awaiting sentencing in the next few months.
After about 18 months of investigation, a congressional committee tasked with looking into the attack released its findings last month, including whether there was enough evidence for the Justice Department to pursue criminal charges against him. back to Trump. The Commission cited obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make false statements, and conspiracy to defraud the United States by assisting, aiding, or consoling participants. join an uprising.
The panel also recommended that Congress bar the former president from holding federal office.
The Justice Department’s own investigation into Trump is ongoing, and it’s unclear whether they will pursue charges against him. Meanwhile, Trump has announced he will run for re-election in 2024.
