Thompson v. Trump, No. 21-cv-00400 (APM), decided with consolidated captions including Swalwell v. Trump, 21-cv-00586, and Blassingame v. Trump, 21-cv-00858. House members and Capitol officers sued President Trump and others over January 6. The lead caption later proceeded as Lee v. Trump after Representative Bennie Thompson dismissed his claims. A civil case is not a criminal charge.
On February 18, 2022, Mehta issued the memorandum opinion reported as 590 F. Supp. 3d 46. He denied President Trump’s motion to dismiss as to plaintiffs’ 42 U.S.C. § 1985(1) claim — a civil statute about conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties — and certain District of Columbia law claims. He granted the motion as to Representative Swalwell’s § 1986 claim and certain other D.C. claims. He granted the motions of Donald Trump Jr. and Rudolph Giuliani. He denied the motions of the Oath Keepers and Enrique Tarrio. He rejected, on the complaint allegations, Trump’s claim of absolute presidential immunity except as to the § 1986 failure-to-act claim.
A denial of a motion to dismiss is not a finding that the speech incited a riot and is not a damages judgment. The D.C. Circuit later affirmed the immunity piece. The 2026 summary-judgment ruling is a separate post.