Those hoping to see Donald Trump held criminally accountable for his efforts after the 2020 defeat have reason to be disappointed: With little choice, special counsel Jack Smith and his team have reluctantly agreed to conclude their criminal accusations compelling and supported by voluminous evidence against the president-elect.

That said, there is yet another path that is not yet closed. Politico reported:

Given the focus on the criminal charges against the president-elect, it’s easy to forget the Jan. 6-related civil litigation he faced — and continues to face.

For those who could benefit a reminderIn the aftermath of the insurrectional violence, among those who filed lawsuits against Trump were police officers injured during the insurrectional violence. In fact, several files have been filed:

• In March 2021two Capitol Police officers, James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby, sued Trump, claiming he was responsible for the injuries they suffered during the riot.
• In August 2021Seven other police officers attacked and beaten during the Capitol riots have sued the former president.
• In January 2022three other police officers — including two who helped evacuate lawmakers — sued Trump, seeking damages for their physical and emotional injuries.
• In January 2023the longtime partner of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died after the Jan. 6 riot, has filed a wrongful death civil suit against Trump.

The New York Times reported the charges “have all been consolidated for the time being before Judge Amit P. Mehta, who has handled several criminal cases related to the riot.” The plaintiffs accused the new Republican president of “conspiracy to violate civil rights, inciting a riot, battery, assault, disorderly conduct and infliction of emotional distress, among other things “.

To be sure, even if Trump lost the civil suits, there would be no criminal consequences, but they could prove politically embarrassing and financially costly. Indeed, let’s not forget that he has suffered several major legal setbacks and defeats in recent years – the E. Jean Carroll affair, the Trump Organization fraud case, the demise of his fraudulent charity, the demise of of his fraudulent “university” and others. – and they were all civil matters.

Additionally, while the Justice Department has a policy barring federal criminal charges against a sitting president, the United States Supreme Court has previously ruled that sitting presidents can face civil suits while in office, and Trump’s lawyers’ claim that he is immune in these cases has already been confirmed. been rejected by two courts.

Watch this space.

This article updates our related prior coverage.