NAACP, Rep. Bennie Thompson sue Trump, Giuliani over Capitol riot | TheHill – The Hill

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The NAACP and Rep. Bennie ThompsonBennie Gordon ThompsonKrebs, other officials urge Congress to take strong action to tamp down cyber threats Katko calls for bipartisanship on cyber issues as threats intensify New cyber panel chair zeros in on election security, SolarWinds hack MORE (D-Miss.) are suing former President TrumpDonald TrumpMichigan Democrat Dingell on violent rhetoric: ‘I’ve had men in front of my house with assault weapons’ McConnell doesn’t rule out getting involved in Republican primaries 75 percent of Republicans want Trump to play prominent role in GOP: poll MORE, alleging that Trump incited the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 in violation of a Reconstruction Era law commonly referred to as the Ku Klux Klan Act.

Filed Tuesday in the federal District Court of Washington, D.C., the civil complaint comes after the former president was acquitted over the weekend by the Senate in his second impeachment trial which was also focused on the events of Jan. 6.

The lawsuit also names Trump lawyer Rudy GiulianiRudy GiulianiBartiromo, Pirro, Dobbs file to dismiss Smartmatic lawsuits Trump DOJ officials sought to block search of Giuliani records: report Lincoln Project unveils mid-impeachment trial ad targeting Republicans over Capitol riot MORE and two white extremist groups, the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.

“You cannot move forward if you don’t address the illegality of what took place, the treasonous act,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson told The Hill. “If you try to move forward without holding people accountable, you only set yourself up [for] future activity that could possibly be successful in toppling our democracy. For African Americans, we see a long history of people not being held accountable … and if we don’t hold people accountable, there becomes this entitlement that it’s OK to cause harm and violate the law.”

Johnson said that the insurrection of the Capitol was steeped in white supremacy, something that can’t be allowed to fester.

“We also must recognize that if we allow these groups to become mainstream they won’t be extremists anymore, but part of our reality,” Johnson said. “That’s not a reality that this country can survive.”

Thompson, in a statement, described Trump’s support of the rioters as “gleeful.”

Jason Miller, a spokesman for Trump, cited the former president’s recent acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial and said Trump did not incite acts of violence. 

“President Trump has been acquitted in the Democrats’ latest Impeachment Witch Hunt, and the facts are irrefutable. President Trump did not plan, produce or organize the Jan. 6th rally on the Ellipse,” Miller said in a statement. “President Trump did not incite or conspire to incite any violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6th. Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi says 9/11-style commission to investigate Capitol breach is ‘next step’ Biden calls for ‘commonsense gun law reforms’ on anniversary of Parkland shooting Pelosi rules out censure after Trump acquittal MORE and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel BowserMuriel BowserTrump World stunned by move to call witnesses Union alleges safety protocol violations at DC school where teacher died of COVID DC delegate to introduce bill banning permanent fencing around Capitol MORE must answer questions as to why they rejected additional security and National Guard assistance in the run-up to Jan. 6th.”

White extremist and hate group activity spiked during the Trump presidency, a concerning trend that the NAACP and other civil rights organizations have consistently warned against.

The Southern Poverty Law Center said that in the first three years of Trump’s presidency, they noted “historically high hate group numbers.”

“Trump, of course, acts as a partial explanation,” the Southern Poverty Law Center said recently in its annual “Year in Hate and Extremism” report. “He undoubtedly emboldened the far right and, importantly, created heightened expectations.”

The Ku Klux Klan Act, passed in 1871, was the third law in a series of legislation created by Congress to slow the violence against and intimidation of Black Americans at the hands of the white hate group following the Civil War.

While much of the law has since become obsolete, several parts have become codified as a statute, including 42 U.S.C. 1985(1) — the provision listed in the lawsuit.

The statute specifically safeguards against conspiracies meant “to prevent, by force, intimidation, or threat, any person from accepting or holding any office.”

Now a private citizen, Trump faces numerous legal challenges in addition to the newly filed suit.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell doesn’t rule out getting involved in Republican primaries McConnell defends acquittal in WSJ op-ed but blasts Trump’s ‘unhinged falsehoods’ Biden pledges action on guns amid resistance MORE (R-Ky.) acknowledged this in a speech Saturday shortly following Trump’s Senate acquittal in his second impeachment trial.

“We have a criminal justice system in this country,” McConnell said. “We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one.”

According to the NAACP, additional lawmakers, including Reps. Hank JohnsonHenry (Hank) C. JohnsonHouse Judiciary Democrats ask Pence to invoke 25th Amendment to remove Trump Five things to watch during Electoral College battle Hoyer says Trump Georgia call likely criminal, wants ‘serious’ investigation MORE (D-Ga.) and Bonnie Watson ColemanBonnie Watson ColemanFallen Capitol Police officer to lie in honor in Rotunda Over 40 lawmakers sign letter urging Merrick Garland to prioritize abolishing death penalty Biden scolds Republicans for not wearing masks during Capitol attack MORE (D-N.J.), are expected to join the lawsuit in the coming days.

Updated at 12:23 p.m.

Source Article from https://thehill.com/homenews/house/538969-naacp-rep-bennie-thompson-sue-trump-giuliani-over-capitol-riot

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