Presidential Powers and 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.