Federal Judge Denies Trump’s Motion to Pause His Jan. 6 Civil Cases

A federal judge on Thursday denied former President Donald Trump’s motion to stay proceedings of all civil lawsuits linked to the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the Capitol, while his 2020 election interference criminal case is ongoing.

The lawsuits were brought by Democratic lawmakers and police officers who seek civil damages for harm they say they suffered during the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, which aimed to stop Congress’ certification of President Joe Biden’s victory.

According to the memorandum opinion and order, President Trump had contended that there is “substantial overlap” between the allegations made by the plaintiffs and those presented by special counsel Jack Smith in his criminal case.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said that President Trump’s assertion is “true in a sense,” given that “both cases center on the former President’s actions in the lead up to and on January 6, 2021.”

“But Defendant overstates the significance of that factual overlap in the present posture of these matters,” the judge stated.

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