Trump Demands Halt to Evidence Gathering in Jan. 6 Lawsuit, Citing Presidential Immunity

Donald Trump is once again trying to shield himself from accountability for the January 6 insurrection by demanding a halt to discovery in a civil lawsuit that alleges he incited the violence. In a 17-page motion filed Wednesday, Trump claims that U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta’s order allowing discovery to proceed is moot because Trump has appealed the ruling on presidential immunity.

The lawsuit, brought by lawmakers including former Rep. Barbara Lee and Capitol Police officers, argues that Trump’s incendiary speech at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021, helped spark the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol. Judge Mehta, an appointee of Barack Obama, rejected Trump’s immunity defense, ruling that the president’s speech was political, not official, conduct and thus not shielded from civil liability.

Despite Mehta’s decision, Trump’s team insists that because he has appealed the ruling, discovery—including depositions and evidence gathering—must be paused. The filing argues that the court lacks jurisdiction to proceed while the appeal is pending and that an automatic stay is in effect.

But Trump’s demand goes further. He wants the stay to apply not only to himself but also to any claims “touching on” him, including those against co-defendants like Rudy Giuliani, the Proud Boys, and Oath Keepers. The filing contends that the conspiracy allegations against these groups are “inextricably intertwined” with those against Trump, so allowing discovery against others without him would be unfair and inefficient.

Trump’s lawyers claim that moving forward with discovery now would force duplicative litigation and “unnecessary distractions” for the former president. They warn that if discovery continues against other defendants and Trump’s appeal fails, discovery would have to be redone with his participation, wasting time and resources.

This motion is the latest attempt by Trump to evade accountability for his role in one of the darkest moments in American democracy. The January 6 civil cases are among the last legal avenues holding Trump responsible for inciting a violent attack on the Capitol. His efforts to block discovery stall the process, but they do not erase the mounting evidence tying him to the insurrection.

As the case drags on, the stakes remain high. The public deserves transparency and accountability for the attack that sought to overturn a free and fair election. Trump’s bid to freeze discovery is a thinly veiled attempt to delay justice and keep the truth hidden.

We will keep tracking this case as it unfolds, shining a light on efforts to obstruct accountability for the January 6 insurrection and the ongoing threats to democracy it represents.