Two Capitol Police Officers Sue Trump Over January Riot

BY Timothy Evans March 31, 2021

Two Capitol Police officers “reported for duty on January 6, 2021, without any suspicion that they would soon become the targets of Trump’s followers.” Those are the haunting words contained in a lawsuit filed against former president Donald Trump by police officers for the physical and emotional injuries they say they suffered in the attacks.

(Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Officers James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby allege in their federal lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in Federal District Court in the District of Columbia, that Trump was directly responsible for inciting a mob of his supporters at the “Stop the Steal” rally on the Ellipse on the morning of Jan. 6. The lawsuit says that Trump incited the mob to march to the Capitol, where they attacked police officers attempting to protect the building and lawmakers who were meeting to certify the Electoral College vote in favor of Joe Biden.

Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died as a result of the insurrectionist riot and two other police officers committed suicide in the aftermath of the melee. Another 140 police officers were injured.

Blassingame is a 17-year veteran of the force, Hemby an 11-year veteran. They are each seeking compensatory damages of at least $75,000 and an additional, unspecified amount of punitive damages from the twice-impeached former president.

Their lawsuit states, “The insurrectionist mob, which Trump had inflamed, encouraged, incited, directed, and aided and abetted, forced its way over and past the plaintiffs and their fellow officers, pursuing and attacking them inside and outside the United States Capitol, and causing the injuries.”

As a result of the assault, Blassingame suffered numerous injuries to his head and back. The lawsuit says that he now suffers from depression and a sense of guilt for not being able to do more to help his fellow officers. Hemby suffered injuries to his left hand, left knee, back and neck and still is receiving physical therapy two to three times a week.