Federal judge rejects Donald Trump effort to halt Jan. 6 civil suit

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

43% : If the high court rejects his argument, a trial would likely resume sometime in the fall and could potentially run up to and through the November election.Mehta, citing the D.C. Circuit's decision in Blassingame v. Trump that opened the former president up to civil litigation for his nonofficial acts surrounding Jan. 6, found little concern of a Fifth Amendment violation.
39% : But Mehta found the concerns unpersuasive as Trump has said in both cases the tweets are official acts and the only question would be whether the tweet falls within or without the outer perimeter of his official responsibilities.
33% : He ordered Trump to provide a description of his immunity defense to the plaintiffs on May 1, and that either party propose a protective order by April 26 to ensure Trump's discovery responses remain under seal for the time being.
30% : Trump argued that allowing the civil case to proceed while his still-paused criminal trial is pending could force him to reveal potential defenses and incriminate himself.
30% : In their February 2021 suit, the lawmakers claim Trump, along with allies like Rudy Giuliani and members of the extremist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, violated the Ku Klux Klan Act by plotting and using violence to prevent them from certifying the 2020 election results.
26% : In an opposition brief, the lawmakers argued that a stay would harm them in three ways: delay the adjudication of their claims; impact the available evidence; and increase the risk that Trump moves or depletes his assets and be unable to satisfy a potential judgement.
24% : In his March 19 motion, Trump argued that by allowing the civil case to proceed while his criminal case is still pending, it could violate his right against self-incrimination.
22% : "The case will merely center on the question of immunity and would not require Trump -- who would not be required to attend in person like his current criminal case in Manhattan -- to admit to any of the conduct he's accused of in Smith's case.
14% : "President Trump should not be forced to waive any of his constitutional rights in this matter, nor prematurely telegraph his criminal defense strategies before the completion of the criminal proceedings," Trump said in the motion.
2% : The plaintiffs, congressional Democrats like Eric Swalwell, Bennie Thompson, Karen Bass, Pramila Jayapal, Maxine Waters and more, have also conceded they are not asking for Trump to be deposed and testify under oath.

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