Trump demands judge halt new discovery in Jan 6. lawsuit against him because new revelations would create...distractions [View all]
Source: Law & Crime
Apr 30th, 2026, 2:19 pm
Donald Trump wants to block evidence and testimony from being shared in a civil case against him that argues the president bears responsibility for the Jan. 6 riot.
In a 17-page motion submitted on Wednesday, Trump contends that U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta's order that the case may continue to the discovery stage is moot because the commander in chief has since appealed the decision. This appeal in pursuit of a finding that he had presidential immunity on that day, Trump argues, necessitates that "the entire case is effectively on appeal because it involves broad, false conspiracy allegations" that cannot be separated from the president himself.
The yearslong case began in February 2021 when lawmakers, including former California representative and current Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, sued Trump, alleging he incited violence on Jan. 6, 2021, notably through his speech at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. Though Trump claimed he had presidential immunity, Mehta dismissed this defense, finding that the president's actions were political in nature. The Barack Obama appointee's ruling meant that the consolidated civil cases serving as among the "last vestiges of litigation concerning the events at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021" would continue.
Weeks later, Mehta ordered Trump to explain "why merits discovery should not proceed against him," as Law&Crime previously reported. Mehta told the Democratic lawmakers and Capitol Police officers suing Trump that discovery against the president — including a deposition — remained on hold.
Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/trump-demands-judge-halt-new-discovery-in-jan-6-lawsuit-against-him-because-new-revelations-would-create-unnecessary-distractions-for-him/
Full headline: Trump demands judge halt new discovery in Jan. 6 lawsuit against him because new revelations would create 'unnecessary distractions' for him
Link to FILING (PDF viewer) - https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28084797-leevtrumpdefdiscovery042826/
Link to FILING (PDF) - https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/28084797/leevtrumpdefdiscovery042826.pdf
REFERENCES
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143642174 (has earlier references)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143654232
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