Judge hears Trump bid for Jan. 6 civil immunity
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta on Dec. 19, 2025 heard arguments on President Donald Trump’s claim that he is immune from civil lawsuits alleging he incited the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, with Trump’s lawyers arguing his pre‑riot speech was an official presidential act and Democratic lawmakers countering that it was office‑seeking conduct outside the scope of immunity. The suit, led by Rep. Bennie Thompson against Trump, Rudy Giuliani and members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, survived Trump’s mass clemency for Jan. 6 defendants, and Mehta said he would issue a written ruling "as soon as we can" after taking the immunity question under advisement.
📌 Key Facts
- Judge Amit Mehta held a hearing Dec. 19, 2025 on whether Donald Trump is entitled to presidential immunity from civil claims tied to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
- Trump attorney Joshua Halpern argued Trump’s Jan. 6-related statements were part of his official duties and protected by absolute presidential immunity.
- Plaintiffs’ lawyer Joseph Sellers said Trump bears the burden to prove his conduct was fully official and cited Supreme Court precedent excluding office‑seeking activity from immunity.
- The underlying lawsuit was originally filed by Rep. Bennie Thompson against Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, and was not extinguished by Trump’s sweeping clemency for Jan. 6 criminal cases.
- Mehta did not rule from the bench and indicated he would issue a written decision after reviewing the parties’ arguments.
📊 Relevant Data
In Nixon v. Fitzgerald (1982), the Supreme Court ruled that the President has absolute immunity from civil damages liability predicated on his official acts.
In Trump v. United States (2024), the Supreme Court held that former Presidents have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts taken within their core constitutional powers.
23-939 Trump v. United States (07/01/2024) — Supreme Court
Of the 716 individuals prosecuted for the January 6 Capitol attack as of 2023, 92% were White, compared to the U.S. population where non-Hispanic Whites make up about 58% as of 2023.
A Demographic and Legal Profile of January 6 Prosecutions — Seton Hall University
Approximately 86% of those arrested and charged with crimes related to the January 6 Capitol insurrection were men, compared to the U.S. population where men comprise about 49% as of 2023.
White Masculinity and the January 6 Insurrection — Ms. Magazine
Right-wing extremist violence in the U.S. has been more frequent and deadly than left-wing violence from 2015 to 2025, though overall political violence remains rare compared to general violent crime.
Analysis: What data shows about political extremist violence — PBS
The Proud Boys is an ultra-nationalist organization founded in 2016 that positions itself as 'proud western chauvinists' and has been involved in political violence, with members predominantly being White men.
The Proud Boys — ACLED
The Oath Keepers is a far-right militia group founded in 2009, associated with the militia movement, and its members include a significant proportion with military or law enforcement backgrounds, estimated at 30% of January 6 participants with military experience affiliated with domestic violent extremist groups.
Assessing US Domestic Extremism in Light of Capitol Riot Investigations — ICCT