Iran Press/ America: Hundreds of Trump supporters stormed into the Capitol on January 6, 2021, encouraged by fiery rhetoric earlier that day from Trump himself urging them to halt the Congressional session that would ratify Joe Biden as the next president.
Many attacked police protecting the building, and some caused damage inside the building and stole items, including a laptop computer of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Sandra Garza, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick former friend and representative of his estate in a complaint filed in Washington on Thursday said that her complaint sued Julian Khater and George Tanios, both of whom pleaded guilty last year to offenses tied to the riot.
As part of his plea, Khater admitted to spraying Sicknick and other officers with bear spray.
Tanios admitted to buying the bear spray and bringing it to the Capitol.
Khater then took the canister from Khater’s backpack and used it on the officers, according to the complaint.
It’s the latest civil lawsuit seeking to hold Trump legally responsible for the violence at the Capitol.
He’s previously argued that he’s immune to being sued over his words and actions in connection with the events of January 6.
A federal appeals court is set to weigh in on the merits of that defense later this year.
Sicknick later collapsed at police headquarters and died the next day. A medical examiner determined that he died of natural causes, though Garza’s complaint notes the examiner also previously stated that “all that transpired played a role in his condition.”
The government didn’t charge the men in connection with Sicknick’s death.
Garza’s lawyers placed the blame squarely on the former president.
“Trump put out a clear call to action, and the crowd — including defendants Khater and Tanios — responded,” Garza’s lawyers said.
Garza is seeking at least $10 million in monetary damages from each defendant as well as punitive damages.
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