Trump loses bid to halt Jan. 6 lawsuits while he faces criminal trial

Despite the fact that Donald Trump is currently being tried in a criminal case involving the January 6 riot and the attempt to overturn the 2020 election result, lawsuits filed by lawmakers and police officers against Trump over his actions on the day move forward, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.

Trump's effort to have the lawsuits paused until his election interference charges, brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith, are resolved was rejected by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, Politico reported.

"Instead, Mehta ordered Trump to begin describing the basis for his claim that he is immune from the lawsuits because his actions on Jan. 6 were part of his official duties as president. Trump had urged Mehta to sideline the lawsuits in part because he argued that disclosing details about his claim of presidential immunity could undermine his criminal defense," Politico's report stated.

Also read: Judge Cannon asked to include Hunter's laptop 'scandal' in official court record

In his ruling, Mehta stated that both cases "center on the former President’s actions in the lead up to and on Jan. 6, 2021. But Defendant overstates the significance of that factual overlap in the present posture of these matters.”

Trump has claimed presidential immunity shields him from criminal liability and lawsuits over his role in sparking the Capitol riot — claims that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear next week. Mehta says that Trump’s immunity claims in regard to the lawsuits can be considered without him having to admit to any actions he took on Jan. 6.

"Only one category of evidence in the civil case might implicate Trump’s Fifth Amendment rights, Mehta continued: his tweets from Jan. 6. But Mehta said he will not require Trump to admit whether he drafted any particular tweet, alleviating the concern that he might be forced to admit to conduct that could incriminate him," Politico reported.